Distance line

Distance line is a term used in various fields such as mathematics, geography, and navigation to denote a line that represents a certain distance. The concept of a distance line is fundamental to understanding spatial relationships and is used in a variety of applications, from map-making to computer graphics.

Mathematics

In mathematics, a distance line, also known as a number line, is a visual representation of numbers laid out in a straight line. Each point on the line corresponds to a number, and the distance between two points is proportional to the absolute difference between their corresponding numbers. This concept is fundamental to the understanding of real numbers and is used extensively in elementary mathematics, algebra, and calculus.

Geography

In geography, a distance line is often used on maps to indicate the scale of the map. This is typically a straight line marked with the actual distances it represents. For example, on a road map, a distance line might be marked to show that one inch on the map corresponds to a certain number of miles or kilometers in the real world. This allows users of the map to estimate distances between different locations.

Navigation

In navigation, a distance line, also known as a rhumb line or loxodrome, is a line crossing all meridians of longitude at the same angle. This means it is a path of constant bearing, which is useful for navigation as it allows a vessel to travel in a straight line while maintaining a constant compass direction.

See also

• Euclidean distance
• Manhattan distance
• Great-circle distance