Question

What is the difference between a line, a line segment and a ray?

Answer 1

Hint: First, we will start with defining each term given in the question first defining a line then we will write the general equation of a line and show it on the graph after that we will define a line segment and show how it is denoted and then we will show it in a graph. Finally, we will define the ray and then we will draw the same graph and hence, get the differences.

Complete step-by-step answer:
So, a line is a one-dimensional figure, which has length but no width. It is made up of a set of points which is extended in opposite directions infinitely. It is determined by two points in a two-dimensional plane. The two points which lie on the same line are said to be collinear points. The general equation of a line is: $ax+by+c=0$ . A line basically looks like the following figure:

Now, let’s see how a line segment is defined. A line segment is a part of a line having two endpoints. Figures such as a triangle, polygon, hexagon, square are made of different numbers of line segments. In contrast to the infinitely extending line, a line segment has a fixed length and can be measured easily. A line segment with A and B as two endpoints is represented as $\overline{AB}$ which will look like the following figure:

Now, let’s see how a ray is defined. So, a ray is a part of a line that has one endpoint that is the starting point and it extends in one direction endlessly. A ray is represented by $\overrightarrow{AB}$ where one end is symbolized by an endpoint and the infinitely extending part by an arrow like the following figure:

So, these were the differences between a line, a line segment and a ray.

Note: Note that there are four types of line: a vertical line, a horizontal line, parallel lines and then perpendicular lines. Also, it is better to write down how a term is represented. Remember that the basic unit of a line, a line segment and a ray is a point. They are basically the collection of infinite points.