Difference between revisions of "Dimension"

 
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A 1-dimensional object is a [[line]], or [[line segment]], which has length, but no other characteristics.
 
A 1-dimensional object is a [[line]], or [[line segment]], which has length, but no other characteristics.
  
A 2-dimensional object has length and height, but no depth. Examples of 2D objects are a [[plane]] and a [[polygon]].
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A 2-dimensional object has length and height, but no depth. Examples of 2D objects are [[plane]]s and [[polygon]]s.
  
A 3-dimensional object has length, height, and depth. Examples of 3D objects are a [[cube]] and a [[sphere]].
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A 3-dimensional object has length, height, and depth. Examples of 3D objects are a [[cube (geometry) | cube]] and a [[sphere]].
  
 
== Other Dimensions ==
 
== Other Dimensions ==
The 4th dimension is [[time]], which is a way to measure physical change. Examples of 4D objects are a [[hypercube]] and a [[hypershpere]].
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Physicists often view the 4th dimension as [[time]].  This view is not necessary in mathematics: mathematicians can calculate and prove a wide variety of facts about higher-dimensional objects (such as the 4-D [[hypercube]] or [[hypersphere]]), even if these objects cannot exist physically in our (apparently) 3-D universe.
 
 
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==
 
* [[General relativity]]
 
* [[General relativity]]

Revision as of 21:13, 8 November 2006

This article is a stub. Help us out by expanding it.

In mathematics, dimensions are parameters used to describe the position and characteristics of an object in space.

Basic Dimensions

A 0-dimensional object is a point, which has no length, height, or depth.

A 1-dimensional object is a line, or line segment, which has length, but no other characteristics.

A 2-dimensional object has length and height, but no depth. Examples of 2D objects are planes and polygons.

A 3-dimensional object has length, height, and depth. Examples of 3D objects are a cube and a sphere.

Other Dimensions

Physicists often view the 4th dimension as time. This view is not necessary in mathematics: mathematicians can calculate and prove a wide variety of facts about higher-dimensional objects (such as the 4-D hypercube or hypersphere), even if these objects cannot exist physically in our (apparently) 3-D universe.

See Also