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Position words Knowledge-Based Study

Math · Geometry · Math · Shapes & Their Attributes

Math topic explanations on Position words.

Study notes

  1. What Are Position Words?

    Position words describe where an object or shape is located in relation to another object or reference point. In geometry, understanding location helps us describe how shapes are arranged in space.

    Common position words include:

    • Above and Below: Describe vertical location. An object that is above is higher than another object, while an object that is below is lower.
    • Beside and Next to: Describe objects that are side by side along a horizontal line.
    • Left and Right: Describe lateral positions relative to a viewer or reference shape.

    Enclosed and Boundary Positions

    Shapes with closed boundaries, such as circles, squares, and rectangles, divide a surface into regions:

    • Inside (Interior): Located within the boundary of a shape. For example, a small dot placed within the perimeter of a rectangle is inside the rectangle.
    • Outside (Exterior): Located beyond the boundary of a shape.
    • On the Boundary: Located directly on the line or curve that forms the perimeter.

    When an object sits in the space separating two other shapes, it is described as being between them.

    Depth and Overlap

    When working with three-dimensional objects or overlapping two-dimensional figures, we use depth-related terms:

    • In Front Of: An object that is closer to the viewer or partially covers another shape is in front of that shape.
    • Behind: An object that is further from the viewer or partially blocked by another shape is behind that shape.

    For example, if a sphere blocks part of a cube from your view, the sphere is in front of the cube, and the cube is behind the sphere.

    Identifying the Reference Point

    To use position words accurately, you must always identify the reference object first.

    Consider an arrangement with a triangle, a circle, and a square:

    • If a triangle rests on the top edge of a square, the triangle is above or on top of the square.
    • If a circle sits directly to the right side of the square, the circle is beside or to the right of the square.
    • The square is below the triangle and to the left of the circle.

    Changing the reference object changes the descriptive word you must use, even though the physical arrangement stays the same.