razdalja

Razdalja (Slovenian for distance) is a measure of how far apart two points, objects, or locations are. It is used in everyday speech as well as in science, engineering, and transportation. The term derives from the Slavic root dalj meaning far, with the prefix raz- signaling separation.

In mathematics, razdalja is formalized as a distance function on a set, producing a metric space. A function d is a distance if for all x, y, z: d(x,y) ≥ 0; d(x,y) = 0 if and only if x = y; d(x,y) = d(y,x); and d(x,z) ≤ d(x,y) + d(y,z) (the triangle inequality). In Euclidean space, the standard distance between points x = (x1, …, xn) and y = (y1, …, yn) is d(x,y) = sqrt((x1−y1)² + … + (xn−yn)²). Other contexts use different metrics, such as geodesic distances on curved surfaces.

In geography and everyday life, razdalja refers to the separation between places or objects; it can be expressed as straight-line distance or routed distance along roads and paths. Distances are typically measured in meters or kilometers, while longer distances may be given in miles or other units. Distances influence travel planning, logistics, and various physical and practical phenomena, such as signal propagation and diffusion.