Line Segment (Coordinate Geometry)

Definition: A straight line which links two points with known coordinates without extending beyond them.
Try this Adjust the line segment below by dragging an orange dot at point A or B and see how the segment AB behaves. You can also drag the origin point at (0,0).

The location of a line segment on the coordinate plane is defined by two endpoints whose coordinates are known. The line links the two endpoints but does not extend beyond them. It is a segment (piece) of a line.

This is the same as the definition of a line segment in ordinary plane geometry, the only difference being that we know the coordinates of the points involved. The naming conventions are also the same.

Things to try

  1. In the above diagram, press 'Reset'. The line segment AB starts at point A at (52,7) and ends at point B at (53,20).
  2. Drag A, B or the origin point and construct various other line segments to get a feel for the concept.

See also the Definition of a Line Segment in plane geometry.

Limitations

In the interest of clarity in the applet above, the coordinates are rounded off to integers and the lengths rounded to one decimal place. This can cause calculatioons to be slightly off.

For more see Teaching Notes

Other Coordinate Geometry topics