SOLUTION: Why does height have to be measure vertically? Why does the distance between two things have to be measure horizontally? Why can't a hypotenuse for example between two building

Question 1027889: Why does height have to be measure vertically?
Why does the distance between two things have to be measure horizontally?
Why can't a hypotenuse for example between two buildings represent the distance or tell us the height?
What does it represent if a vertical lines measures height and a horizontal lines represents distance.
What do lines like the hypotenuse represent?
I asked this before here, and got the reply "It doesn't make sense."
So, I'm going to post this again.
Why doesn't it make sense?
Also, what would the hypotenuse represent?
Found 2 solutions by FrankM, ikleyn:
Answer by FrankM(1040) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If you lie down, I can measure your height horizontally.
When a baby is born, no one says "she's 17 inches tall", instead they say "17 inches long". Mostly because they can't get newborns to stand up.
Answer by ikleyn(52803) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
1. Astronomers measure the distance to the stars and other planets looking up - not horizontally.

2. The hypotenuse represents the side of the right-angled triangle opposite to the right angle.

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