point

(noun)

An entity that has a location in space or on a plane, but has no extent.

Related Terms

Examples of point in the following topics:

  • Wilson's Fourteen Points

  • Electric Field from a Point Charge

    • A point charge creates an electric field that can be calculated using Coulomb's law.
    • The electric field of a point charge is, like any electric field, a vector field that represents the effect that the point charge has on other charges around it.
    • If the charge is positive, field lines point radially away from it; if the charge is negative, field lines point radially towards it .
    • The electric field of a point charge is defined in radial coordinates.
    • The positive r direction points away from the origin, and the negative r direction points toward the origin.

  • Linear Perspective

    • A drawing has one-point perspective when it contains only one vanishing point on the horizon line.
    • These parallel lines converge at the vanishing point.
    • A drawing has two-point perspective when it contains two vanishing points on the horizon line .
    • This third vanishing point will be below the ground.
    • Four-point perspective, also called infinite-point perspective, is the curvilinear variant of two-point perspective.

  • Boiling Point Elevation

    • The boiling point of a solvent is elevated in the presence of solutes.
    • This is referred to as boiling point elevation.
    • The extent of the boiling point elevation can be calculated.
    • In this equation, $\Delta T_b$ is the boiling point elevation, $K_b$ is the boiling point elevation constant, and m is the molality of the solution.
    • The boiling point of a pure liquid.

  • The Cartesian System

    • The Cartesian coordinate system is used to visualize points on a graph by showing the points' distances from two axes.
    • The point where the axes intersect is known as the origin.
    • A Cartesian coordinate system is used to graph points.
    • Points are specified uniquely in the Cartesian plane by a pair of numerical coordinates, which are the signed distances from the point to the two axes.
    • Each point can be represented by an ordered pair $(x,y) $, where the $x$-coordinate is the point's distance from the $y$-axis and the $y$-coordinate is the distance from the $x$-axis.

  • Point-Slope Equations

    • The point-slope form is ideal if you are given the slope and only one point, or if you are given two points and do not know what the $y$-intercept is.
    • Given a slope, $m$, and a point $(x_{1}, y_{1})$, the point-slope equation is:
    • Then plug this point into the point-slope equation and solve for $y$ to get:
    • Example: Write the equation of a line in point-slope form, given point $(-3,6)$ and point $(1,2)$, and convert to slope-intercept form
    • Plug this point and the calculated slope into the point-slope equation to get:

  • Stress and Strain

    • A point charge creates an electric field that can be calculated using Coulomb's Law.
    • The electric field of a point charge is, like any electric field, a vector field that represents the effect that the point charge has on other charges around it.
    • If the charge is positive, field lines point radially away from it; if the charge is negative, field lines point radially towards it.
    • The electric field of a point charge is defined in radial coordinates.
    • The positive r direction points away from the origin, and the negative r direction points toward the origin.

  • Maximum and Minimum Values

    • The second partial derivative test is a method used to determine whether a critical point is a local minimum, maximum, or saddle point.
    • The second partial derivative test is a method in multivariable calculus used to determine whether a critical point $(a,b, \cdots )$ of a function $f(x,y, \cdots )$ is a local minimum, maximum, or saddle point.
    • For example, if a bounded differentiable function $f$ defined on a closed interval in the real line has a single critical point, which is a local minimum, then it is also a global minimum (use the intermediate value theorem and Rolle's theorem).
    • Its only critical point is at $(0,0)$, which is a local minimum with $f(0,0) = 0$.
    • Apply the second partial derivative test to determine whether a critical point is a local minimum, maximum, or saddle point

  • Using Pointing Words

    • Pointing words help orient your reader and establish continuity within your writing.
    • In the example, the word "this" is a pointing word that refers back to the previous sentence, while simultaneously pointing toward how the ensuing sentence will take up and comment on the initial sentence.
    • The pointing word establishes continuity between the two sentences by acting as a pivot that both points backward to the previous sentence and points forward.
    • In the title, the word "these" acts as a pointing word that points back to the noun, "wild animals," contained in the first sentence.
    • Pointing words are used to produce continuity in your writing.

  • Design Tips

    • Love it or hate it, PowerPoint, or PowerPoint type slides, are the most common form of visual aid seen during a presentation.
    • The following design tips can help users develop effective PowerPoint presentations, while keeping in mind PowerPoint etiquette .
    • Do not write the entire presentation on your PowerPoint.
    • Instead, create bullet points and headings no longer than three to five words that give the main points.
    • Use at least an 18-point font for main points and a smaller sized font for sub-points.