Vertical in Maths – Definition with Examples

What is Vertical?

In geometry and its applications, one of the skills that we prefer our kids to learn by instinct or cultivate within themselves is called the line of sight. Line of Sight refers to our ability to be an observer and look at things from our point of view. Depending on the context, we change our perspective to view things in different alignments or rotations. The most elementary perspectives or alignments we view objects with are horizontal and vertical. 

Vertical alignment is when we view things from top to bottom. It is referred to as the alignment when things are standing.

Horizontal alignment is when we view things from left to right. It is referred to as the alignment when things are in the sleeping position.

Vertical Movements

In our day-to-day life, there are various things we notice in vertical alignment like a standing building or a powerhouse, etc. The word vertical can also be used to describe the motion of objects. Since we know, vertical stands for top to bottom, the motion of an apple falling from a tree, would be vertical motion.

Or the motion of a rocket or a balloon going from bottom to top is also classified as vertical.

Vertical in Math

In mathematics, vertical and horizontal alignment are represented by vertical and horizontal lines. A vertical line is the one that we draw from top to bottom. 

On the coordinate plane, the y-axis is referred to as the vertical axis and all the vertical lines are parallel to this axis.

Drawing a Vertical line

Using a Ruler:
To draw a vertical line using a ruler, keep the ruler in a standing position, perpendicular to the edge of the page and draw the line from bottom to top or top to bottom.

To draw a vertical line on a coordinate plane

Follow these steps:

Step 1: Plot any point on the coordinate plane, for example (4,3)

Step 2: Identify the x-coordinate of the point marked. Here, it is 4.

Step 3: Plot another point on the coordinate plane with the same x -coordinate. For example (4, -2).

Step 4: Join the two points plotted using a ruler to get a vertical line.

Uses of Vertical Lines

Vertically Line is used in symmetry and photography.

A vertical line of symmetry runs across the image from top to bottom or bottom to top and divides the image into identical halves.

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Cameras are designed to take photographs in landscape (horizontal) or portrait (vertical) mode. In horizontal mode, photographs are wider than they are tall. In vertical mode, photographs are taller than they are wide. 

Vertical and Horizontal

Solved Examples

Example 1: Which line segments represent vertical lines?

Solution:

Lines AB and CD are vertical lines.

Example 2: Does the given letter of the alphabet have a vertical line of symmetry or not?

Solution: Yes.

Example 3: Can you find any number between 0 to 9 that has a vertical line of symmetry?

Solution:

0 and 8 have vertical symmetry.

Example 4: How many vertical lines are there in a given figure?

Solution:

There are 10 vertical lines in the given figure.

Practice Problems

Frequently Asked Question