Line Segment

A line segment is a part of a line that is bounded by two distinct end points and contains every point on the line between its end points.

Properties of a Line Segment

• A line segment has a fixed length.
• It is a straight path joining two points.
• It does not extend indefinitely in either direction.

Notation

A line segment is typically named by its two endpoints, such as AB or PQ.

Length of a Line Segment

The length of a line segment can be found using the distance formula:

Length = √((x2 - x1)^2 + (y2 - y1)^2)

Examples

Consider the line segment with endpoints A(3, 4) and B(7, 10). The length of the line segment AB can be found using the distance formula:

Length = √((7 - 3)^2 + (10 - 4)^2) = √(4^2 + 6^2) = √(16 + 36) = √52

Practice Problems

1. Find the length of the line segment with endpoints P(2, 5) and Q(6, 9).
2. Determine the midpoint of the line segment with endpoints R(1, 3) and S(5, 7).
3. Draw a line segment with length 8 cm using a ruler and label the endpoints as A and B.

Conclusion

Understanding line segments and their properties is important in geometry and real-world applications. Practice solving problems to reinforce your understanding of this concept.