Line segment: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 14:53, 16 September 2024

Latest revision as of 16:56, 22 August 2025

(18 intermediate revisions by 12 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{Short description|Part of a line that is bounded by two distinct end points; line with two endpoints}}

[[Image:Segment definition.svg|thumb|250px|right|The geometric definition of a closed line segment: the [[intersection (Euclidean geometry)|intersection]] of all points at or to the right of {{mvar|A}} with all points at or to the left of {{mvar|B}}]]

[[File:Fotothek df tg 0003359 Geometrie ^ Konstruktion ^ Strecke ^ Messinstrument.jpg|thumb|historicalHistorical image –of create1699 - creating a line segment (1699)]]

{{General geometry}}

In [[geometry]], a '''line segment''' is a part of a [[line (mathematics)|straight line]] that is bounded by two distinct end'''endpoints''' (its [[Pointextreme (geometry)|pointspoint]]s), and contains every [[Point (geometry)|point]] on the line that is between its endpoints. It is a special case of an ''[[arc (geometry)|arc]]'', with zero [[curvature]]. The [[length]] of a line segment is given by the [[Euclidean distance]] between its endpoints. A '''closed line segment''' includes both endpoints, while an '''open line segment''' excludes both endpoints; a '''half-open line segment''' includes exactly one of the endpoints. In [[geometry]], a line segment is often denoted using an [[overline]] ([[vinculum (symbol)|vinculum]]) above the symbols for the two endpoints, such as in {{mvar|{{overline|AB}}}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Line Segment Definition - Math Open Reference|url=https://www.mathopenref.com/linesegment.html|access-date=2020-09-01|website=www.mathopenref.com}}</ref>

Examples of line segments include the sides of a triangle or square. More generally, when both of the segment's end points are vertices of a [[polygon]] or [[polyhedron]], the line segment is either an [[edge (geometry)|edge]] (of that polygon or polyhedron) if they are adjacent vertices, or a [[diagonal]]. When the end points both lie on a [[curve]] (such as a [[circle]]), a line segment is called a [[chord (geometry)|chord]] (of that curve).

Line 36:

==As a degenerate ellipse==

A line segment can be viewed as a [[Degenerate conic|degenerate case]] of an [[Ellipse#Line segment as a type of degenerate ellipse|ellipse]], in which the semiminor axis goes to zero, the [[Focus (geometry)|foci]] go to the endpoints, and the eccentricity goes to one. A standard definition of an ellipse is the set of points for which the sum of a point's distances to two [[focus (geometry)|foci]] is a constant; if this constant equals the distance between the foci, the line segment is the result. A complete orbit of this ellipse traverses the line segment twice. As a degenerate orbit, this is a [[Elliptic orbit#Radial elliptic trajectory|radial elliptic trajectory]].

==In other geometric shapes==

Line 62:

{{see also|Relative position}}

When a line segment is given an [[orientation (vector space)|orientation]] ([[direction (geometry)|direction]]) it is called a '''directed line segment''' or '''oriented line segment'''. It suggests a [[translation (geometry)|translation]] or [[displacement (geometry)|displacement]] (perhaps caused by a [[force]]). The magnitude and direction are indicative of a potential change. Extending a directed line segment semi-infinitely produces a ''[[raydirected (geometry)|rayhalf-line]]'' and infinitely in both directions produces a ''[[directed line]]''. This suggestion has been absorbed into [[mathematical physics]] through the concept of a [[Euclidean vector]].<ref>Harry F. Davis & Arthur David Snider (1988) ''Introduction to Vector Analysis'', 5th edition, page 1, Wm. C. Brown Publishers {{isbn|0-697-06814-5}}</ref><ref>Matiur Rahman & Isaac Mulolani (2001) ''Applied Vector Analysis'', pages 9 & 10, [[CRC Press]] {{isbn|0-8493-1088-1}}</ref> The collection of all directed line segments is usually reduced by making [[equipollent (geometry)|equipollent]] any pair having the same length and orientation.<ref>Eutiquio C. Young (1978) ''Vector and Tensor Analysis'', pages 2 & 3, [[Marcel Dekker]] {{isbn|0-8247-6671-7}}</ref> This application of an [[equivalence relation]] dateswas fromintroduced by [[Giusto Bellavitis]]'s introduction of the concept of [[equipollence (geometry)|equipollence]] of directed line segments in 1835.

==Generalizations==

Line 72:

Beyond Euclidean geometry, [[geodesic segment]]s play the role of line segments.

A line segment is a one-dimensional ''[[simplex]]''; a two-dimensional simplex is a triangle.

==Types of line segments==

Line 90 ⟶ 92:

==External links==

{{commons|Line segment|Line segment}}

{{Wiktionary|line segment}}

*{{mathworld |urlname=LineSegment |title=Line segment }}