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Lines, Line Segments, & Rays

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- Show answers to discussion questions
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- We’ll learn about lines, line segments, and rays.
- We'll also learn the difference between parallel and perpendicular lines.
- And we’ll discover that this knowledge can help us build a bird house, travel on a train, and understand a blueprint!
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Discussion Questions
- Before VideoWhat comes to mind when you hear the word “point”?ANSWER
Showing where something is; earning credit for getting something right; a dot; a mark on a line plot or other data display.
Rectangular tabletops, floors, or walls; circular clock; triangular pennants.
The top and bottom of a brick; the top of one wall and the bottom of another.
Any closed shape with 4 straight sides, where the sides do not connect at all 90-degree angles is correct.
Students may point out the corners of their desk, or of the floor tiles.
- After VideoYou use the word "line" in your daily life and in math. How are the ways you use the word different? ANSWER
In daily life, lines may be curved or stop, but as a mathematical object lines need to be straight and go on forever.
The sides have a starting point and an ending point. They are line segments.
Sides of rectangular objects; sides of triangles that meet at a 90-degree angle.
For example, a square has 2 pairs of parallel sides and 4 pairs of perpendicular sides.
Yes, as long as they cross somewhere so they share a point, rays or lines could form angles.
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Vocabulary
- Point DEFINE
A location with no length or width, often shown as a dot.
- Line segment (or Segment) DEFINE
A straight connection between two points; a portion of a line.
- Line DEFINE
A straight object that goes on forever in two directions; it has a length, but no width.
- Ray DEFINE
A straight object that starts at a point and goes on forever in one direction, shown by an arrow.
- Parallel DEFINE
Two lines that always stay the same distance apart.
- Perpendicular DEFINE
Two lines that intersect at a 90-degree angle.
- Point DEFINE
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Reading Material
Download as PDF Download PDF View as Seperate PageWHAT ARE LINES, LINE SEGMENTS, AND RAYS?Lines, line segments, and rays are mathematical objects that you can see in the world around you. Lines are straight and go on forever in either direction, while line segments have a start and end point. Ray have a start point but go on straight forever in the other direction.
To better understand lines, line segments, and rays…
WHAT ARE LINES, LINE SEGMENTS, AND RAYS?. Lines, line segments, and rays are mathematical objects that you can see in the world around you. Lines are straight and go on forever in either direction, while line segments have a start and end point. Ray have a start point but go on straight forever in the other direction. To better understand lines, line segments, and rays…LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!
Skyscraper Blueprint
A blueprint of a skyscraper has points in many places. The outer edge of the building has a point wherever there is a corner. These corners are locations where two parts of the building meet, but they don’t have their own length or width. You can imagine that the exact place where one of these points is located looks like a small dot. When an object starts from a point and goes on forever in one direction, that’s called a ray. Think of a ray like one from the sun: light starts at the sun then goes on forever in one direction. When an object starts from one point and then ends at another point, like the height of a building, that’s called a line segment. It’s a portion of a line, which would go on forever in two directions. Try this one yourself: Draw a simple figure of a house or building. Exchange papers with another student. In a new color, draw a point wherever you see two lines or curves meet. Exchange papers again to see if any points were missed.
Skyscraper Blueprint A blueprint of a skyscraper has points in many places. The outer edge of the building has a point wherever there is a corner. These corners are locations where two parts of the building meet, but they don’t have their own length or width. You can imagine that the exact place where one of these points is located looks like a small dot. When an object starts from a point and goes on forever in one direction, that’s called a ray. Think of a ray like one from the sun: light starts at the sun then goes on forever in one direction. When an object starts from one point and then ends at another point, like the height of a building, that’s called a line segment. It’s a portion of a line, which would go on forever in two directions. Try this one yourself: Draw a simple figure of a house or building. Exchange papers with another student. In a new color, draw a point wherever you see two lines or curves meet. Exchange papers again to see if any points were missed.The Game Show
A point tells you exactly where something is located. For example, a map of the state of Illinois may show a point for the city of Chicago. A ray goes off forever in one direction from a single starting point. Imagine a laser being shined into space! Line segments have a start and an end. If a window is covered with horizontal blinds, each one of the blinds is like a line segment. Lines go on forever in two directions. The horizon is like a line. It seems to be straight and goes off beyond our sight to the left and to the right. Try this one for yourself: Draw a map of your classroom. Include line segments as the border of the room and points as the locations of important objects. Do you see any rays or lines? Explain whether you do or do not.
The Game Show A point tells you exactly where something is located. For example, a map of the state of Illinois may show a point for the city of Chicago. A ray goes off forever in one direction from a single starting point. Imagine a laser being shined into space! Line segments have a start and an end. If a window is covered with horizontal blinds, each one of the blinds is like a line segment. Lines go on forever in two directions. The horizon is like a line. It seems to be straight and goes off beyond our sight to the left and to the right. Try this one for yourself: Draw a map of your classroom. Include line segments as the border of the room and points as the locations of important objects. Do you see any rays or lines? Explain whether you do or do not.Train Tracks
Straight train tracks are always the same distance apart. Since they seem to go on forever, you can think of them as parallel lines. Skiing is an activity where parallel lines are important as well. If you keep your skis parallel, you have a better chance of not falling, so imagine parallel lines drawn over your two skis when you’re trying to keep your balance. In contrast, some objects not only cross each other but do so in a very precise way. For example, a suspension bridge can have two metal wires that meet at a point and form a 90-degree angle. These wires are described as perpendicular. They make a “square corner,” also known as a right angle. Street intersections often meet at a right angle. In fact, they make four different right angles: one on each side of each street. A ladder has both parallel and perpendicular line segments: the steps of the ladder are parallel to each other, while the sides of the ladder are perpendicular to the steps. Try this one for yourself: Find pictures of real-life objects that have parallel and perpendicular parts in them. Explain why you think it is important for the parts to be parallel or perpendicular.
Train Tracks Straight train tracks are always the same distance apart. Since they seem to go on forever, you can think of them as parallel lines. Skiing is an activity where parallel lines are important as well. If you keep your skis parallel, you have a better chance of not falling, so imagine parallel lines drawn over your two skis when you’re trying to keep your balance. In contrast, some objects not only cross each other but do so in a very precise way. For example, a suspension bridge can have two metal wires that meet at a point and form a 90-degree angle. These wires are described as perpendicular. They make a “square corner,” also known as a right angle. Street intersections often meet at a right angle. In fact, they make four different right angles: one on each side of each street. A ladder has both parallel and perpendicular line segments: the steps of the ladder are parallel to each other, while the sides of the ladder are perpendicular to the steps. Try this one for yourself: Find pictures of real-life objects that have parallel and perpendicular parts in them. Explain why you think it is important for the parts to be parallel or perpendicular.Comparing Lines
Parallel lines and line segments are always the same distance apart, like the markings on a football field. You can look at sections of railroad tracks and see that the tracks are always the same distance apart. The tracks made by skis can also form parallel lines. Perpendicular line segments form a right angle, like where the walls and floor meet on a blueprint drawing. Perpendicular lines may be drawn on a grid, showing how far left/right and up/down a point is from the center of the grid. Try this one yourself: Create a piece of artwork that contains parallel line segments and perpendicular line segments. Use one color to highlight or darken the parallel segments, and another color to show off the perpendicular segments.
Comparing Lines Parallel lines and line segments are always the same distance apart, like the markings on a football field. You can look at sections of railroad tracks and see that the tracks are always the same distance apart. The tracks made by skis can also form parallel lines. Perpendicular line segments form a right angle, like where the walls and floor meet on a blueprint drawing. Perpendicular lines may be drawn on a grid, showing how far left/right and up/down a point is from the center of the grid. Try this one yourself: Create a piece of artwork that contains parallel line segments and perpendicular line segments. Use one color to highlight or darken the parallel segments, and another color to show off the perpendicular segments.Classifying Shapes
A rectangle has 2 sets of perpendicular sides. They make 4 right angles. Rectangle