In the study of Geometry, the vital parameters which help outline the models are length and width. There is often some sort of uncertainty when it comes to differentiating the length from width. The various explanations with regards to the meaning of the two measurements are mostly determined by where it’s learned.
In mathematics, most pupils are educated about how the longest side of a parallelogram is its length while the width would then be its shorter side despite the fact of whether or not the longer side is the horizontal side or the vertical side. Although, numerous individuals have perceived that the width is usually in level with the horizontal side while the length is mostly vertical.
Length vs Width
The main difference between length and width is that in accordance to the International System of Quantities, length is the most elongated dimension of an entity whereas width, which is also known as the breadth, is the interval from one side to another which measures over a specific entity whose lengths form 90O angles with the shorter sides (as in a rectangle).
Comparison Table Between Length and Width (in Tabular Form)
| Parameter of comparison | Length | Width |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Length is defined as the distance along the longest dimension and the two ends of an object/line. | Width can be defined as the measurement of an object from side to side. |
| Geometry | The longest side of an object will be considered as the result of a scale. | The shortest side of an object will be considered as a result of a scale. |
| Three-dimension model | The vertical side of an object is a result of calculating the length of a three-dimension model. | The horizontal side of an object is a result of calculating the width of a three-dimension model. |
| Factor | Length explains how prolonged an object is. | Width explains how intensive an object is. |
| Importance | Length is considered to be the most important measurement as length defines how long an entity is. | Width is likewise considered an equally important measurement that defines how broad an entity is. |
What is Length?
Length alludes to the measurement of the dimensions of an object from end to end. The interval time was firstly originated from the German language and then was later introduced into the English language as length, and from there the word ‘length’ gained the concept of measurement. Length is used to estimate the distance.
The International System of Quantities defines length as the quantity used to compute the distance between dimensions. The base unit of length, as given by the International System of units, is the meter (m) and is nowadays defined in terms of the speed of light which is 300 million meters per second. The millimeter, centimeter, and the kilometer, which are forms of meter, can also be considered as units of length. There are several other units of length such as foot, yard, mile, etc.
Einstein’s special relativity proved length cannot be constant for all reference frames. Hence, the length can depend on the observer’s perspective. The line has one dimension and that one measurement is the length of a line. The length of a circle is its circumference.
A rectangle has two measurements and one of these measurements is the length and the other is the width. Length can likewise be used as a geometric measurement. In the Euclidean geometry, the length is computed using the straight lines of an object, like say, the perimeter for a polygon can be computed as the sum of the length of its sides whereas in other geometrics, length can be estimated along curved paths and these are called geodesics.
What is Width?
Width, also known as breadth, refers to the extent/distance of an object from side to side. Width is additionally considered as a significant measurement since it continues as a time interval. Width is considered as the shortest estimate of a factor. Width can be used to see how broad an object or how prolonged merchandise can be. The most important unit used to measure width is the meter (m). Very small distances can be estimated using a millimeter(mm) and to calculate large distances kilometers(km) are used as units to calculate the width.
Width is the horizontal side of the plane. In this case, we’d say that the width of the rectangle is the shorter of the two sides. Width is said to have no ambiguity. Width can likewise mean telling someone how wide an object is.
If an object has two dimensions, then the length and width are both necessary to calculate the area or the perimeter of the object, for example, a rectangle has two dimensions i.e, both a vertical and horizontal plane. When one tries to quantify an object, they begin by finding out the width of the object. The smallest distance of an object is considered as the width of the object. Width always measures how intensive an object is considered.
Main Differences Between Length and Width
- Length refers to the distance between two ends of an object. Width refers to the measuring the breadth or how wide the object is.
- Length can be measured in geometry by considering the biggest side of the object. Width can be measured in geometry by considering the smallest side of the object.
- Length of a three-dimensional model can be measured by considering the vertical side of the object. Width of a three-dimensional model can be measured by considering the horizontal side of the object.
- The main factor of measuring length is considering how prolonged an object is. The main factor of measuring width is considering how intensive an object is.
- Length can be used to estimate how long an entity is. Width can be used to estimate how broad an entity is.
Conclusion
In geometry, when we estimate the periphery of an entity we always look at the two most essential parameters – their length and their width. Both these measurements are not the same and require certain details to be precise about before concluding which term is applicable for which side of the entity.
This article brings about these very details and highlights the meanings of both the terms along with their features. It discusses how length is referred to as the greater distance of measurement from one side to another side and how width refers to how wide an entity from one side to another side estimating across the entity at 900 angles to the longer side, i.e, length.
References
- https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Length
- https://www.yourdictionary.com/width