Dimension of a Space

The number of coordinates needed to specify a point in a space is the dimension of the space. For example, a line is a one-dimensional space, because any point on a line relative to a reference point on that line can be specified with a single value. A plane has two dimensions, because two coordinate values are needed to specify the location of a point on a plane relative to a reference point on the same plane. The physical space we see has three-dimensions at any point in time, because three coordinate values are needed to specify the location of a point within that space with respect to a reference point within the same space. However, if a point of interest changes position within that three-dimensional space over time, a fourth coordinate (time) must be specified, resulting in a four-dimensional space. If your position has or ever will change in three-dimensional space, you live in a space that has at least four dimensions. ©2005 Tigertek, Inc. All rights reserved.

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