What is the Difference Between Line Segment and Ray?

The main difference between a line segment and a ray lies in their endpoints and extensions:

• Line Segment: A line segment is a part of a line that has two endpoints and is finite in length. It contains all the points of the line between its two endpoints. Line segments can be measured in terms of length, and they have fixed lengths.
• Ray: A ray is a line segment that extends indefinitely in one direction. It has one endpoint (i.e., a starting point) and extends infinitely in a single direction. Rays cannot be measured in terms of length, as they go on forever in one direction.

In summary, a line segment is a finite, one-dimensional shape with two endpoints, while a ray is a one-dimensional shape with one endpoint that extends infinitely in one direction.

Comparative Table: Line Segment vs Ray

The main difference between a line segment and a ray lies in the number of endpoints they have and their lengths. Here is a comparison table highlighting the differences between line segments and rays:

A line segment has two endpoints and extends in both directions, with all the points between them making up its length. On the other hand, a ray has one endpoint and extends infinitely in one direction, but its length cannot be measured.