7.1 Lines and Planes in 3D Space: Technical Terminology

This first section introduces some of the mathematical terminology in isolation on the topic of lines and planes in 3D space. There are two activities:

  1. The first activity introduces a small number of core terms that are central to the field of lines and planes in 3D space.
  2. The second activity expands your vocabulary with additional relevant terminology.

By the end of this section, you will be familiar with the following three aspects of some key terms in the field of lines and planes in 3D space:

  1. Meaning (what each term represents).
  2. Form (how each term is written or structured, including its spelling and typical notation).
  3. Usage (how each term is used in mathematical contexts).

 

In this first activity, your task is to match the mathematical terms to the correct definition. Ensure that you are familiar with the pronunciation and the spelling of each term before progressing to the next activity. For example, the word projection is stressed on its second syllable, i.e. projection. This information can be found for all terms in this activity in the Glossary, Section 7.7.

By the end of this activity you will be familiar with the meaning and form of some key terminology in the field of lines and planes in 3D space.

 

In this second activity, your task is to choose the better description for each term by selecting one of two provided statements. As with the previous activity, ensure that you are familiar with the pronunciation and the spelling of each term. This information can be found for all terms in this activity in the Glossary, Section 7.7.

The aim of this activity is to extend your familiarity with the field of lines and planes in 3D space by introducing an additional set of key terms.

 

In the next section, you will shift your focus from individual terms to how these terms are used in complete sentences and paragraphs. You will see how mathematical terminology combines with other words to create meaning in authentic mathematical writing. This will help you understand how mathematicians actually discuss and explain lines and planes in textbooks, lecture notes, and academic papers.

 

Licence

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

The Academic Language of Mathematics Copyright © 2026 by University of Leeds is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book