Difference Between Length vs Height

Difference Between Length vs Height

What’s the difference between length and height? Beyond doubts, we use the two distances in our everyday activities. From a mathematician in the classroom trying to solve a geometry question to a civil engineer in the field working hard to complete his building project, a carpenter in the workshop who wants to design a bench to architect who needs to perfect his plan, these people cannot spend a day without using those two terms.

However, these professionals are not the only people who apply those two terms in their daily activities. You do too! Yes, that’s why you are going through this piece. Do you wish to learn about the difference between height and length? If yes, then continue reading as we kick off with their definitions.

Definition of Length

Feel free to define length as the distance between two ends, which is considered from horizontal ends. This can apply to so many things, such as a house, a cube, bed or just anything that has two ends. Also, its unit is usually in meters or centimeters, depending on the size of the object. Today, it is commonly used with other aspects to determine the dimension of things around us. While breadth or width is also measured from the horizontal axis, length of an object is usually longer than its breadth.

Apart from dimension, which is the consideration of length by width by height of objects, there are other important instances where length plays a significant role. The classic examples include area, distance, volume and a host of others. The use of the parameter to determine the actual size of an object has continued to be a part of our everyday lives. Today, experts in physical sciences and engineering cannot do without such measurements.

Definition of Height

On the other hand, height is also the gap between two points. However, in this case, it is considered from the vertical axis. This simply means that it is the distance between the two ends of something measured from two vertical points.

In our everyday life, it features prominently when experts want to determine the heights of people, mountains, houses, and the list goes on. Its standard unit is meter or centimeter, depending on the size of the item in question. More importantly, it is used when the dimension of an object is measured. Once again, dimension is the combination of three parameters.

Nevertheless, there have been other cases where inches are applied, especially for items that are sold online. Again, this is where dimension is considered. In physical sciences, there are occasions where experts determine the vertical position of certain things. In this case, the term “height” is rarely used. But then, when you look at it closely, you will understand that it is the same message that is being let out.

For instance, they use vertical distance from sea level or altitude. By and large, they are still trying to determine the differences between the edges of something or the gap between its two points. Having come thus far, the next thing we will now establish is the difference between length and height. Well, the table below will give you more insight into the subject.

Main Differences Between Length vs Height

Basis of ComparisonLengthHeight
Meaning This is the distance between two points taken from horizontal positions This is the distance between two points that is taken from vertical axis
Position taken into consideration Horizontal Vertical
Adjectival form   Derived from long Derived from tall
Mathematics The horizontal distance with the most extended edges (not be confused with breadth, which is usually shorter) The only distance that is measured from two vertical positions

Difference Between Length and Height: Conclusion

Now, what is the difference between length and height? When such a question pops up, we strongly believe that you can answer it because we have fully dissected the disparity between the two distances. In the classroom, mathematics students continuously solve problems that relate to those two terms.

So, if you are one of them, we have the strong conviction that you now know the answer to the question above, don’t you? Indeed, many mathematical shapes have length, width and height. When these three measurements are calculated, the final answer is the dimension of the object. There is no gainsaying that the two distances in question have many similarities but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have their contrasts as we have established in this guide.