I was quoting a single sentence of my mini-essay. “Give them a line” probably doesn’t make much sense out of context.
The original context was that a line segment is a degenerate case of a rectangle (one with zero width). You can absolutely say a line segment is a rectangle (albeit a degenerate case of one). However, if your partner really wanted a rectangle for their birthday, and you got them a line segment, they may very well be super-pissed with you, even if you’re using the same definition of “line segment” and “rectangle”.
If you’re not using the same definition, or even if you’re simply unsure whether you’re using the same definition, then when you get your rectangle-wanting partner a line segment for their birthday, not only would they be pissed with you, but you may also be factually incorrect in your assertion that the line segment is a rectangle for all salient purposes.
I was quoting a single sentence of my mini-essay. “Give them a line” probably doesn’t make much sense out of context.
The original context was that a line segment is a degenerate case of a rectangle (one with zero width). You can absolutely say a line segment is a rectangle (albeit a degenerate case of one). However, if your partner really wanted a rectangle for their birthday, and you got them a line segment, they may very well be super-pissed with you, even if you’re using the same definition of “line segment” and “rectangle”.
If you’re not using the same definition, or even if you’re simply unsure whether you’re using the same definition, then when you get your rectangle-wanting partner a line segment for their birthday, not only would they be pissed with you, but you may also be factually incorrect in your assertion that the line segment is a rectangle for all salient purposes.