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What is the shortest distance between a straight line and a curve?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
If you translate (move without rotation) a copy of the line towards the curve, the first point where the line touches the curve (the tangent to the curve with the slope of the original line) will be the point on the curve closest to the line.
Draw a connecting line from this tangent point to the original line, intersecting that original line at right angles.
Measure the connecting segment. It is the shortest distance.
Vector analysis will give a mathematically strict solution, I do not have the ability to explain this in sufficient detail.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
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What figure do you get if you join two points in cartesian plane?
You get a curve. If you join them along the shortest [Euclidean] distance between them, you get a straight line.
A imaginary line that follows the curve of the earth the shortest distance between two points on a globe?
... is called a Great Circle arc.
Why is the shortest distance between 2 points a straight line?
When you curve the line you are travelling you are no longer going directly from one point to the other. If you want to go from one point to another you would want to go directly to the second point.
Is curve the opposite of straight?
Curve is one possible opposite of straight if straight refers to line that does not bend. Other meanings of straight like honest, heterosexual, and direct have different opposites than curve.
What t words is define in geometry as a straight line that touches a curve but continues on with croosing it?
A tangent, but it (a) has nothing to do with croosing (whatever that may mean); and (b) while it does not cross the curve in the neighbourhood of the point of contact - there is no restriction on it crossing the curve at a distance.
What figure do you get if you join two points in cartesian plane?
You get a curve. If you join them along the shortest [Euclidean] distance between them, you get a straight line.
How can the shortest distance between two points be a curve?
Actually, this turns out to be more of a debate than you might think. Historically, most of us were taught the shortest distance between two points is a straight line; that is a principle of Euclid's geometry. But not everyone agrees with Euclid, and there are other types of geometry. For example, because the Earth is a sphere, and not flat as distance maps portray it, that is why some scientists say that the shortest distance is actually a sphere or a curve (in other words, the distance would be measured by following the Earth's contours).
What is the difference between actual distance traveled and straight line distance?
Actual distance travel is the total distance you actually traveled, including all the loops and curves. Straight line distance is the direct distance between the 2 places, in a straight line without a curve
A imaginary line that follows the curve of the earth the shortest distance between two points on a globe?
... is called a Great Circle arc.
Why is the shortest distance between 2 points a straight line?
When you curve the line you are travelling you are no longer going directly from one point to the other. If you want to go from one point to another you would want to go directly to the second point.
What is a line in math?
The shortest distance between any 2 points. An ideal zero-width, infinitely long, perfectly straight curve (the term curve in mathematics includes "straight curves") containing an infinite number of points. In Euclidean geometry, exactly one line can be found that passes through any two points.A line in math is a straight line that goes forever on each side.
Who coined the phrase The shortest distance is between two points is a straight line?
Well, It wasnt exactly coined but here goes. Einstien agrees that the shortest distance b/w 2 points is a staight line but then he says that it depends on your point of view: if you draw a straight line on a piece of paper then fold it, to you it will become curved but to an ant walking along that line it is still straight so it all depends on the observer and the plane of geomety since it can curve. You could say that Einstien proved it but as far as who coined it ... I would say Euclid: for euclidean geometry states those very words.
What is an Allen curve?
An Allen curve is a graphical representation which reveals the exponential drop in frequency of communication between engineers as the distance between them increases.
How many miles is Bangkok Thailand from Denver CO?
The distance is straight path from one place to another place. There might be slight difference between the actual distance and the above mentioned distance because of the route chosen.The distance between the above mentioned places is 8,715.02 miles approximately.
What is a parabolic curve?
A parabolic curve is a curve where any point in the curve is an equal distance from two areas. It is an equal distance away from the focus, or fixed point and the fixed straight line, or the directrix.
What is the different between a curve banana and a straight banana?
A curved banana is a gay banana and a straight banana is not a gay banana.
Are latitude and longitude lines curve or straight?
They curve with the curve of the Earth.
