Points can be described as positions represented by dots to indicate exact location.
They can be contrasted from other geometric structures like lines, curves, or 3D objects.
Unlike them, a point has no dimensions such as height, size, or volume.
Therefore, we can only describe the position of a point but we can’t describe its length, volume, or height as it has none of this.
You can produce a line when you join two distinctive points. You can also position a point on a line, surface, or space.
In fact, more complex objects like lines, surfaces, or space start with a point as their fundamental building block.
To create these more complex objects, the number of points needed is indeed infinite.
Type of points
Points can either be categorized as collinear, coplanar, concyclic, or coincident.
- Collinear: these types of points lie on the same line
- Coplanar: these points lie on the same plane or flat surface
- Concyclic: these points lie on the same circumference of a circle
- Coincident: these points are found at the same location which means they are actually the same point
If you can prick a paper with the tip of your pen without making any sideways movement, the result is a point.
Points are usually named using capital letters such as point A or point B.
Let’s now look at 10 real-life examples of points in geometry.
1. Points on a map
The most popular use of a point is for locating positions on a map. For example, Google maps display various points on it which shows the locations of cities, towns, or geographic features.
2. A needle tip
The end of a needle that is used for piercing is considered to be a point. It is used to prick a tiny part of your fabric to enable a thread to be passed through for stitching.
3. The tip of your pen or pencil
This is the end of your pen or pencil which you use to write with on paper or a book. You can use it to make points on paper or mark precise locations.
4. Stylus
This is a pointing device that is used for drawing or writing on touch screens.
Its end is a point that is used to tap your computer screen or tablet and get detected.
This allows you to make marks, drawings, selections, or perform other operations similar to mouse actions.
5. The proboscis of an insect
A proboscis is a long slender tubular structure that insects use to reach and suck things from their environment like food.
Its end can be considered to be a point where it just used to touch a surface.
Related Posts:
11 Examples of Collinear Points In Real Life
11 Non-Collinear Points Examples in Real Life
6. The singularity of the big bang
Physicists believe that the whole universe started from a very infinitely tiny and dense point. It had no characteristics like space, mass, or time.
Scientists call this point a singularity and it conforms to the characteristics of a point such as having no size, volume, or height.
Only after the massive explosion of the Big Bang, did this point rapidly expand to become our present universe with characteristics like a diameter.
7. Showing coordinates on a graph
If you want to locate a position on a graph, you use a point that is defined by coordinates.
This can be on a plane using an x-axis and y-axis or in space using x, y, and z-axis.
Such points take coordinates such as A(x,y) or B(x,y,z)
8. Inflection points of stock market
Stock market prices keep changing almost every moment Inflection points are points that can be used in the graph to show where major prices changes or reversals are taking place
9. Crosshair targeting
These are cross-like lines that intersect at perpendicular angles. Their meeting spot is a middle point that is used to give a visual reference to a gunner who is aiming a shot at a target.
10. For measuring resolution
In measuring resolution, points can be used to represent dots that are given as dots per inch or DPI.
The resolution of a digital scan or printed document depends on the dot density measured by DPI.
A higher density of dots gives higher resolutions. This density can be measured by DPI by looking at the number of dots that are placed on a line the length of an inch.
Conclusion
Despite being the tiniest things that you can imagine with no size, points play a vital role in our lives.
They are heavily used in geometry and even in astronomy for applications with far-reaching importance.