Name:___________________________ Period:___________ Date:___________

1-3 Points, Lines, and Planes

Most of us know what we are talking about when we hear to terms point, line or plane. However,
these terms are actually undefined terms but we general agree that they mean the following...

A point is the most fundamental object in geometry. It is represented by a dot and named by a
capital letter. A point represents position only; it has zero size (that is, zero length, zero width, and
zero height).

A line (straight line) can be thought of as a connected set of

infinitely many points. It extends infinitely far in two opposite directions. A line has
infinite length, zero width, and zero height. Any two points on the line name it. The
symbol ↔ written on top of two letters is used to denote that line. A line may also be
named by one small letter

A plane may be considered as an infinite set of points forming a connected flat surface
extending infinitely far in all directions. A plane has infinite length, infinite width, and zero
height (or thickness). A plane will be denoted using an uppercase script letter, like P. If A,
B, and C are three distinct noncollinear points (see below), then they determine a unique
plane which will be denoted by ABC.

Some axioms regarding points, lines and planes are given below.

1. An infinite number of lines can be drawn through any given point.

2. One and only one line can be drawn through two distinct points.

3. When two lines intersect they do so at only one point.

What is a postulate?__________________________________________________________________________

Please Copy Postulates 1 and 2 found on page 14

Points that lie on the same line are called collinear points. If there is no line on which all of
the points lie, then they are noncollinear points. In the figure to the right, points M, A, and
N are collinear, and points T, I, and C are noncollinear.

Note: In the following definitions, the prefix "co" means "same".

DEFINITION:  collinear points: points lying on the same line DEFINITION:  noncollinear points: points not lying on the same line

DEFINITION:  coplanar points: points lying in the same plane DEFINITION:  noncoplanar points: points not lying in the same plane
DEFINITION:  Three or more lines are concurrent if they share a unique common point.

There are a few additional terms we need to be familiar with for this unit…

The line segment or segment AB consists of the endpoints A and B, and all
↔
points AB on that are between A and B. 

The ray →
consists of the initial point A and all points on line ↔
AB AB
that lie on the same side of A as point B.

Please copy the summary of lines, segments, and rays in the box below

PRACTICE PROBLEMS
1. State whether the figure is a line, a ray, or a segment. Give it two names.

2. State whether the figure is a line, a ray, or a segment.

3. Name the line shown in figure in three ways.

4. Use the figure shown. Identify four different rays.

5. Write all the points, segments, lines, and rays shown in figure.

6. Sketch and label a diagram to represent the following.

7. Sketch and label a diagram to represent the following.

8. Sketch and label a diagram to represent the following.

9. Draw a labeled diagram to illustrate the description: and point C on but not on

10. Draw a labeled diagram to illustrate the description: Non–collinear points A, B, and C, ,
, and point D on

11. Check whether the given model indicates a point, a line, a plane, a ray, or a line segment.
Explain your answer.
a floppy disk

12. Check whether the given model indicates a point, a line, a plane, a ray, or a line segment.
Explain your answer.
a bullet's path