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# 4.6: Equations of Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

Difficulty Level: Advanced Created by: CK-12
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Practice Comparing Equations of Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

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Can you write the equation for the line that passes through the point (–2, –3) and is parallel to the graph of ? Can you write the equation of the line in standard form?

### Equations of Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

Parallel lines are lines in the same plane that never intersect. Parallel lines maintain the same slope, or no slope (vertical lines) and the same distance from each other. The following graph shows two lines with the same slope. The slope of each line is 2. Notice that the lines are the same distance apart for the entire length of the lines. The lines will never intersect. The following lines are parallel.

Two lines in the same plane that intersect or cross each other at right angles are perpendicular lines. Perpendicular lines have slopes that are opposite reciprocals. The following graph shows two lines with slopes that are opposite reciprocals. The slope of one line is and the slope of the other line is . The product of the slopes is negative one. . Notice that the lines intersect at a right angle. The lines are perpendicular lines.

You can use the relationship between the slopes of parallel lines and the slopes of perpendicular lines to write the equations of other lines.

#### Let's decide whether the lines are parallel, perpendicular or neither given the following slopes:

The slopes are reciprocals but not opposite reciprocals. The lines are neither parallel nor perpendicular.

The slopes are reciprocals and are also opposite reciprocals. The lines are perpendicular.

The slopes are the same. The fractions are equivalent. The lines are parallel.

The slopes are reciprocals and are also opposite reciprocals. The lines are perpendicular.

The slopes are not the same. The lines are neither parallel nor perpendicular.

#### Now, let's find the equation of the lines given the following sets of information:

1. The line passing through the point (–4, 6) and parallel to the graph of

If the equation of the line you are looking for is parallel to the given line, then the two lines have the same slope. Begin by expressing in slope-intercept form in order to find its slope.

The equation of the line is

1. Determine the equation of the line that passes through the point (6, –2) and is perpendicular to the graph of . Write the equation in standard form.

Begin by writing the equation in slope-intercept form.

The slope of the given line is . The slope of the perpendicular line is The line passes through the point (6, –2).

The equation of the line is

### Examples

#### Example 1

Earlier, you were asked if can you write the equation for the line that passes through the point (–2, –3) and is parallel to the graph of

Begin by writing the given equation in slope-intercept form. This will give the slope of this line. The slope of the parallel line is the same as the slope of the given line.

The slope of the given line is –2. The slope of the parallel line is also –2.

The equation of the line is

#### Example 2

Determine whether the lines that pass through the two pairs of points are parallel, perpendicular or neither parallel nor perpendicular.

(–2, 8), (3, 7) and (4, 3), (9, 2)

The slopes of the lines are the same. The lines are parallel.

#### Example 3

(2, 5), (8, 7) and (–3, 1), (–2, –2)

The slopes of the lines are opposite reciprocals. The lines are perpendicular.

#### Example 4

(4, 6), (–3, –1) and (6, –3), (4, 5)

The lines are neither parallel nor perpendicular.

#### Example 5

Write the equation for the line that passes through the point (–3, 6) and is perpendicular to the graph of . Write the equation of the line in slope-intercept form.

Begin by writing the given equation in slope-intercept form. This will give the slope of this line. The slope of the perpendicular line is the opposite reciprocal.

The slope of the given line is . The slope of the perpendicular line is The equation of the perpendicular line that passes through the point (–3, 6) is:

The -intercept is (0, 1) and the slope of the line is The equation of the line is

### Review

For each pair of given equations, determine if the lines are parallel, perpendicular or neither.

1. and
2. and
3. and
4. and
5. and
6. and

Determine the equation of the line satisfying the following conditions:

1. through the point (5, –6) and parallel to the line
2. through the point (–1, 7) and perpendicular to the line
3. containing the point (–1, –5) and parallel to
4. containing the point (0, –6) and perpendicular to
5. through the point (2, 4) and perpendicular to the line
6. containing the point (–1, 5) and parallel to
7. through the point (0, 4) and perpendicular to the line

If and are the vertices of determine:

1. the equation of the line through and parallel to .
2. the equation of the line containing the altitude from to (the line perpendicular to that contains ).

To see the Review answers, open this PDF file and look for section 4.6.

### Notes/Highlights Having trouble? Report an issue.

Color Highlighted Text Notes

### Vocabulary Language: English

Parallel

Two or more lines are parallel when they lie in the same plane and never intersect. These lines will always have the same slope.

Perpendicular

Perpendicular lines are lines that intersect at a $90^{\circ}$ angle. The product of the slopes of two perpendicular lines is -1.

standard form

The standard form of a quadratic function is $f(x)=ax^{2}+bx+c$.

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