Enter the lengths of two adjacent segments to find the total length of the combined segment.
Understanding the Segment Addition Postulate
The segment addition postulate is a fundamental principle in Euclidean geometry. It states that if point C lies between points A and B on a straight line, then the length of segment AB is equal to the sum of the lengths of segments AC and CB:
AB = AC + CB
This relationship allows us to determine unknown lengths when the other two are known, making it a useful tool in many geometric problems, construction planning, and even in fields such as computer graphics where precise measurements are required.
Checking measurements in drafting or CAD software.
Quickly verifying distances in surveying or mapping tasks.
Example Calculation
Suppose you have two adjacent segments: Segment A is 5.2 units long and Segment B is 3.8 units long. Using the segment addition postulate, the total length of the combined segment is:
AB = 5.2 + 3.8 = 9.0 units
Enter these values into the calculator above to see the result instantly.
Tips for Accurate Results
Ensure both inputs are positive numbers; negative lengths do not have geometric meaning.
Use the same unit of measurement for both segments (e.g., centimeters, meters, inches).
If you need to find a missing segment, rearrange the formula: Missing = Total − Known and perform the subtraction manually.
By mastering the segment addition postulate, you gain a reliable method for handling linear measurements in a wide range of practical and academic scenarios.
function calculateTotal() {
var segA = parseFloat(document.getElementById('segmentA').value);
var segB = parseFloat(document.getElementById('segmentB').value);
if (isNaN(segA) || isNaN(segB)) {
document.getElementById('result').innerHTML = 'Please enter valid numbers for both segment lengths.';
return;
}
if (segA < 0 || segB < 0) {
document.getElementById('result').innerHTML = 'Lengths must be non‑negative.';
return;
}
var total = segA + segB;
document.getElementById('result').innerHTML = 'Total Segment Length = ' + total.toFixed(2) + ' units';
}