How_To_Be_Good_At_Math

GEOMETRY • HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL LINES 205

Horizontal and

Diagonal lines

We give lines different names to describe things about them, such as

their direction or how they relate to other lines. Horizontal lines are level

and go from side to side, while vertical lines go straight up and down.

A horizontal line goes from

side to side, like the wings

of this plane. It is parallel

(level) with the horizon.

The struts that join the

wings are vertical. They go

up and down, and they’re at

right angles to the horizon.

There are more vertical and

horizontal lines in the picture.

See how many you can spot.

REAL WORLD MATHS

Horizontal or not?

A horizontal line is completely level. Some things

need to be horizontal, such as bookshelves or

the layers of bricks in the wall of a house. If a

road has even a very gentle slope, a car would

roll down to the bottom, unless we remembered

to put the handbrake on!

Horizon

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