It was asked by our geometry teacher & answered no.But I have practically drawn it on the basketball.
2006-12-25 01:20:16 · 12 answers · asked by pratikmalvan100 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
No, it is not possible. In a plane, the shortest distance between two points is a line segment, which by definition is part of a straight line in a plane. On the surface of a sphere, the lines are not straight. Instead, they are curves. A portion of a curve, analagous to a line segment, is called a chord. On the surface of a sphere, the shortest distance between two points is a chord that is a segment of a great circle, where a great circle is a circle on the surface of the sphere that has the same diameter as the sphere.
2006-12-31 05:37:22 · answer #1 · answered by DavidK93 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
....and the argument rages on...
What is a curved line?
If a line is not straight, is it a line?
"The shortest distance between two points is a straight line." implies curved lines. Otherwise the modifier would be redundant.
From American Heritage dictionary:
line 1 (ln) KEY
NOUN:
1. Mathematics A geometric figure formed by a point moving along a fixed direction and the reverse direction.
2. a. A thin continuous mark, as that made by a pen, pencil, or brush applied to a surface.
b. A similar mark cut or scratched into a surface.
c. A crease in the skin, especially on the face; a wrinkle.
3. a. A real or imaginary mark positioned in relation to fixed points of reference.
b. A degree or circle of longitude or latitude drawn on a map or globe.
c. The equator. Used with the.
2006-12-25 02:02:58 · answer #2 · answered by Helmut 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. A line segment, by definition, is a portion of a line. A line, by definition, is straight. There are no two points on the surface of a sphere that can be connected by a straight line.
A point can be made on the surface of a sphere but that is not defined to be a line segment.
2006-12-25 04:36:48 · answer #3 · answered by beached42 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
that is greater convenient to entice 4 triangles with six line segments. Draw a sq., with 2 intersecting go strains. yet 3 could contain a shared apex and a uncomplicated final diagnosis for 2 of the triangles, which might slant as much as form the backside of the third triangle. If the final diagnosis remains right this moment, it basically makes use of 5 line segments, so which you're able to break the final diagnosis into 2 segments via changing the path for one area of it.
2016-10-28 08:15:17 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah u are right for sure, line segments at a point are possible for any 3-D surface.
Your teacher is wrong.
What u r saying for the basketball is surely true.
Infact for a sphere or any other geometrical shape/figure you can draw infinite number of line segments passing through a point .
2006-12-25 01:22:34 · answer #5 · answered by Som™ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No.A segment is defined as a 2D figure in a plane. You can have a segment by drawing a line in a circle.You could not apply it to a sphere since it is 3Dimensional. You would need a plane to to intersect the sphere to have a well defined solid segment.
2006-12-25 02:25:51 · answer #6 · answered by openpsychy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you can draw what looks like a line on a sphere, but it really isnt "a line" end of story
2007-01-01 22:23:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would no because a line is a two dimensional figure and a sphere is a 3D shape.
2006-12-25 01:49:50 · answer #8 · answered by Flab 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The answer is yes because a line segment starts at point a and finishes at point b regardless if it is straight or not
2006-12-25 01:30:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
In Euclidian geometry, the answer is no.
However, in several forms of non-Euclidian geometry, the answer is yes.
I'm sure you're studying Euclidian geometry.
2006-12-25 05:07:36 · answer #10 · answered by Steve A 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋