Lines

Here you will learn about lines, including what they are, what they are made of and different ways to classify sets of lines.

Students will first learn about lines as part of geometry in 4 th grade.

What are lines?

In geometry, Lines are one-dimensional figures that are straight and extend forever in opposite directions.

For example,

Lines image 1 US

Lines can be broken down into many different parts. One part is a line segment.

A line segment is part of a line that has a beginning and an end point.

For example,

Line segment BQ

Line segments are seen in many common 2D shapes and real world items.

For example,

Each side of a triangle is made up of line segments – parts of straight lines.

Lines image 3 US

Step-by-step guide: Line segments

A line can also be broken down into a ray. A ray is a part of a line that has one endpoint, but extends forever in the other direction.

For example,

Ray Lines BQ

Rays are also seen in geometric angles, inequality graphs and real world items.

For example,

Lines image 5 US

Angle F is made up of two rays → ray FY and ray FO .

Step-by-step guide: Ray math

When more than one line is present, there is a relationship. There are two types of line relationships: lines that intersect (cross) or lines that never intersect. When lines are always the same distance apart and never intersect, they are parallel lines.

For example,

Each side of a rectangle is made of a line segment that is part of a line. The opposite sides of a rectangle are parallel.

Lines on the opposite sides of a rectangle are parallel

There are also many examples of parallel lines in real life.

For example,

The lines that pass by the legs of a table are parallel.

Lines image 7 US

Step-by-step guide: Parallel lines

When lines intersect and form a 90 -degree angle, they are perpendicular lines.

Each side of a rectangle is perpendicular to the adjacent sides (the sides that touch). This is why the corners of a rectangle always form right angles.

Lines image 8 US

There are also many examples of perpendicular lines in real life.

For example,

A table’s legs and the flat tabletop are perpendicular to each other. A 90^{\circ} angle is formed where the legs and the tabletop meet.

Lines image 9 US

Step-by-step guide: Perpendicular lines

What are lines?

What are lines?

Common Core State Standards

How does this relate to 4 th grade math?

  • 4th Grade – Geometry (4.G.A.1)
    Draw points, lines, line segments, rays, angles (right, acute, obtuse), and perpendicular and parallel lines. Identify these in two-dimensional figures.

How to identify lines, rays and line segments

In order to identify lines, rays and line segments:

  1. Look at each end and decide if it is a point or never ending.
  2. Name the figure as a line, line segment, or ray.
  3. If there is more than one figure, decide if it is an example of parallel lines or perpendicular lines.

[FREE] End of Year Math Assessments (Grade 4 & Grade 5)

[FREE] End of Year Math Assessments (Grade 4 & Grade 5)

[FREE] End of Year Math Assessments (Grade 4 & Grade 5)

Assess math progress for the end of grade 4 and grade 5 or prepare for state assessments with these mixed topic, multiple choice questions and extended response questions!

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[FREE] End of Year Math Assessments (Grade 4 & Grade 5)

[FREE] End of Year Math Assessments (Grade 4 & Grade 5)

[FREE] End of Year Math Assessments (Grade 4 & Grade 5)

Assess math progress for the end of grade 4 and grade 5 or prepare for state assessments with these mixed topic, multiple choice questions and extended response questions!

DOWNLOAD FREE

Lines examples

Example 1: one dimensional figure

What type of figure is shown?

Lines image 10 US

  1. Look at each end and decide if it is a point or never ending.

The left end is a point and the right end is never ending.

2Name the figure as a line, line segment, or ray.

The figure is a ray.

Example 2: one dimensional figure

What type of figure is shown?

Lines image 11 US

Neither side of the figure has an endpoint. Both sides are never ending.

The figure is a line.

Example 3: one dimensional figure

Highlight the line, line segment and ray shown in the figure below

Lines image 12 US

The left end is never ending and the right end is never ending. There are two points, T and R.

Because there are two points, this figure can represent all three. Let’s look at each.


The figure shows line TR, which goes in each direction and never ends:


Lines image 12 US-1


The figure shows line segment TR, which has two endpoints:


Lines image 14 US


The figure shows ray TR and ray RT, which each have one endpoint, and the other end goes on forever:


Lines image 15 US

Example 4: lines in a 2-dimensional shape

Highlight any sets of parallel lines or perpendicular lines in the compound shape (a rectangle and a right triangle).

Lines image 16 US

Lines image 17 US


Each vertex is a point, and no part of the shape is never ending.

Each side of the shape is made of a line segment that is part of a line. These lines cross at the vertices of the shape (which are also the endpoints of the line segments).


Lines image 18 US

The shape has parallel lines and perpendicular lines. Let’s look at each.


Parallel lines are lines that are the same distance apart and never touch.


Lines image 19 US


The blue lines are parallel to each other and the green lines are parallel to each other.


Since the shape is made up of a rectangle and a right triangle, the two left corners and the far right corner are right angles ( 90^{\circ} ).


Where the rectangle and triangle meet, they also appear to form right angles. This means the intersecting lines at these vertices are perpendicular.


Lines image 20 US


There are five sets of perpendicular lines created by shape.

Example 5: identifying parallel lines and perpendicular lines

Identify sets of lines that appear to be parallel or perpendicular.

Lines image 21 US

Both sides of each figure are never ending.

The figures are identified as lines.

Parallel lines are lines that are the same distance apart and never touch.


Lines image 22 US


Line X and Line B appear to be parallel.


Perpendicular lines are intersecting lines that cross and form four right angles ( 90^{\circ} ).


Lines image 23 US


Line A and Line Y appear to be perpendicular.

Example 6: lines in the real world

Find a set of parallel lines and perpendicular lines.

Lines image 24 US

The sides of the picture frame have endpoints.


Lines image 25 US

Each side of the shape is made of a line segment that is part of a line.


Lines image 26 US

Parallel lines are lines that are the same distance apart and never touch.


Lines image 26 US-1


The blue lines are parallel to each other and the green lines are parallel to each other.


The picture frame is made up of two rectangles. Each side of a rectangle is perpendicular to the adjacent sides (the sides that touch). This is why the corners of a rectangle always form right angles.


Lines image 28 US


The lines that form the corners are perpendicular.

Teaching tips for lines

  • Worksheets that provide a variety of figures (lines, line segments, rays) can be a good way to learn how to identify them. However, it is also important to teach students to look for these figures in the real world.

  • Encourage students to go beyond just rotely solving practice problems to also creating each type of figure, and require them to explain why a figure is classified the way it is.

  • Challenge students to add new lines to a given example of parallel or perpendicular lines. For example, given a set of parallel lines, ask students to draw a line that is not parallel to the two lines, a line that is parallel to the two lines, and a line that creates a set of perpendicular lines.

  • To incorporate art, ask students to create a design that includes all the types of figures covered on this page. For an extension, they can compare their art to a partner’s and see who has more of each type of figure within their creation.

Easy mistakes to make

  • Confusing parallel and perpendicular lines
    Since they are often introduced together, in the beginning, it is easy for students to confuse these two vocabulary words. With enough practice and real world application, students will learn the difference.

  • Thinking parallel lines have to be vertical lines or horizontal lines
    Parallel lines can be in any orientation as long as they are lines that are the same distance apart and never intersect.
    For example,

    Lines image 29 US

  • Thinking lines and line segments are synonyms
    Lines and line segments are not the same thing. Line segments have endpoints, whereas lines go on forever.

Practice lines questions

1) What type of figure is shown below?

 

Lines image 30 US

line

GCSE Quiz False

line segment

GCSE Quiz True

ray

GCSE Quiz False

parallel lines

GCSE Quiz False

The figure has two endpoints and is part of a line, so it is a line segment.

2) What is the best classification for the figure below?

 

Lines image 31 US

line

GCSE Quiz True

line segment

GCSE Quiz False

ray

GCSE Quiz False

point

GCSE Quiz False

The figure has no endpoints and goes on forever in opposite directions, so it is a line – which is why it is commonly referred to as a number line.

3) Which choice shows rays in the shape?

Lines image 32 US

GCSE Quiz False

Lines image 33 US

GCSE Quiz False

Lines image 34 US

GCSE Quiz True

GCSE Quiz False

Rays have one endpoint and an opposite side that goes on forever. Two rays with a common endpoint form an angle.

 

Lines image 36 US

 

These two angles show four rays that are in the shape.

4) Complete the sentence:
The part of the New York state line shown in pink is an example of a(n)…

 

Lines image 37 US

angle

GCSE Quiz False

line

GCSE Quiz False

ray

GCSE Quiz False

line segment

GCSE Quiz True

The figure has two endpoints and is part of a line, so it is a line segment.

5) Which choice shows parallel lines formed by the sides of the shape?

Lines image 38 US

GCSE Quiz True

Lines image 39 US

GCSE Quiz False

Lines image 40 US

GCSE Quiz False

Lines image 41 US

GCSE Quiz False

Parallel lines are lines that are always the same distance apart and never intersect.

 

Lines image 42 US

 

The sides of a parallelogram are parallel.

6) Which lines are perpendicular?

 

Lines image 43 US

Line Y and Line B

GCSE Quiz False

Line A and Line X

GCSE Quiz False

Line Y and Line X

GCSE Quiz True

Line A and Line B

GCSE Quiz False

Perpendicular lines are intersecting lines that cross and form four right angles (90^{\circ}).

 

Lines image 44 US

 

Line Y and Line X are perpendicular lines.

Lines FAQs

What is a line?

A set of points that go in opposite directions on a straight path.

What is a polygon?

A general definition for a polygon is a straight sided, closed figure. Shapes like triangles, squares, and octagons are polygons. Shapes like a circle or a ray are not polygons.

What are collinear points?

All points on a line are collinear – meaning they are on the same line.

What is a transversal line?

A line that passes through at least two other lines at specific points.

Can line segments have fractions as the length of the line?

Yes, a line segment can have a fractional length. The measurement does not have to be equal to a whole number.

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