This lesson page will teach you how to tell the difference when two lines (or segments) are either parallel or perpendicular. Here are the sections within this lesson page:

• Definitions of Parallel and Perpendicular
• Telling the Difference Between Parallel and Perpendicular
• Examples
• Instructional Video
• Interactive Quizmaster
• Related Lessons and Quizmasters

    Before progressing with the following sections, you must first understand how to use the slope formula. Please review this lesson before proceeding.

    esson: Slope Formula

    Here are the definitions of parallel and perpendicular.

    When two lines (or two sides of a polygon) are parallel, their slopes will be equal. When two lines (or two diagonals of a polygon) are perpendicular, their slopes will be opposite reciprocals of each other. The table below encapsulates this information.

    These examples will show you how to determine when two lines (or segments) in a plane are either parallel, perpendicular, or neither of the two. The calculations for slope (see our Slope Formula lesson) have not been shown. Only the interpretations of the slopes are explained.

Example 1: Given A(3,1), B(5,4), U(-5,10), and V(-3,13), what is the relationship between line-AB and line-UV? Are they parallel, perpendicular, or neither?

    The slope between point-A and point-B is ³/₂. The slope between point-U and point-V is ³/₂. Since the slopes are equal, AB and UV are parallel lines.


Example 2: Given R(-2,3), S(6,-1), K(-5,4), and L(1,8), what is the relationship between line-RS and line-KL?

    The slope of line-RS is -¹/₂. The slope of line-KL is ²/₃. Since these slopes are neither equal nor opposite reciprocal, these lines are neither parallel nor perpendicular.


Example 3: Given C(4,-3), D(2,1), G(7,-2), and H(9,-1), what is the relationship between line-RS and line-KL?

    The slope of line-CD is -²/₁ or simply -2. The slope of line-GH is ¹/₂. Since these slopes are opposite reciprocal of each other, these lines are perpendicular.

    uiz: Parallel, Perpendicular, or Neither

    This instructional video will help you understand hwo to determine when two lines (segments) are parallel, perpenducular, or neither.

    ideo: Lines and Segments: Parallel, Perpendicular, or Neither

    Try this interactive quizmaster to see if you understand this concept.

    uiz: Parallel, Perpendicular, or Neither

    Try theses lessons, which are related to the sections above.

    esson: Slope Formula
    esson: Coordinate Geometry
    esson: Classifying Parallelograms
    esson: The Point-Slope Formula