Line Segment

Line is a collection of points in a straight path that can be extended upto infinity. Since the line is extended to infinity its length cannot be measured. A Straight Line with arrow on both sides is used to denote a line.

A line segment is a part of the line that has two end points. Since the segment has two definite endpoints its length can be measured.   A straight line with dots on both sides is used to denote a segment.

Line segments can be named in two different ways:

1. A line segment can be called $\overline{AB}$ with the names of the two end points A and B. The bar above the name of line segment represents that it is a line segment not a line which can be extended in both directions.
2. A line segment can be named with a single letter also say $\overline{A}$.

The length of a line segment can be calculated by finding the distance between the two end points. If the distance between the two end points A and B is 8 then the length of the line segment is also 8. The midpoint of a line segment is the Point dividing the line segment into two equal halves. The midpoint of a line segment can be calculated by dividing the length of the line segment by 2.

There are 4 different types of a lines segments:
1. Horizontal segment which create straight lines in a coordinate plane.
2. Diagonal segment which cuts each other diagonally.
3. Perpendicular segment which cuts each other at 90 degrees.
4. Parallel line segment which are in groups and having same slopes but no meeting points.