Final answer:
Option (A), Traditionally, a short line on engineering drawings was used to indicate welded joints, but now it is commonly used to indicate pipe bends, assisting in the visual representation of pipe orientation and bending angles in design schematics.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of engineering drawings, a short line had traditionally been used to indicate welded joints; this symbol is used for indicating pipe bends nowadays. Welding symbols are essential in blueprint reading and construction as they communicate specific instructions to the workers about how to join materials, such as metal pipes.
When the short line is used to indicate a pipe bend, it helps in visually communicating the orientation and angle required for the pipes to be accurately fitted within the design of a system or structure.