- Definition
Imagine a flashlight beam: it starts at the flashlight but goes on forever in one direction. That's what a ray is in math.
In a drawing of the sun, the lines of light shining outward are rays because they start at the sun and seem to go on forever.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A ray is like the beam from a flashlight — it starts at the flashlight but keeps going and going.
Ask your child: If you draw the sun, where do the lines of light start?
Common mix-up: Kids often confuse a ray with a line. A ray has a clear starting point, but a line goes on forever in both directions.
Examples
- A drawing of an arrow shooting from a bow shows a ray.
- The path of light coming from a star in a painting.
ray is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
