Parallel and

5-6 Perpendicular Lines

Two distinct lines in a coordinate plane either intersect or are parallel. Parallel lines are lines in the same
plane that never intersect. You can determine the relationship between two lines by comparing their slopes
Vocabulary
and y-intercepts.

KEY CONCEPT: SLOPES OF PARALLEL LINES

Review
Nonvertical
1. Circle are
lines parallel
the product of aifnumber
they have the
and its same slope and different y-
reciprocal.
intercepts. Vertical lines are parallel if they have different x-intercepts.
100 1 0 21
# #
The graphs2.of
Circle the pairs of numbers that are reciprocals.
𝑦 = $ 𝑥 + 1 and 𝑦 = $ 𝑥 − 2 are lines that have the same
1 0 3 4
slope, ½, and 7different
and 7 y-intercepts.
1 andTherefore,
21 these lines
0 andare
12 parallel. 24 and 23

Vocabulary Builder
You can use the fact that the slopes of parallel lines are the same to write the equation of a line parallel to a
given line. parallel (adjective) PA ruh lel
Related Word: perpendicular (adjective)
PROBLEM 1: WRITING AN EQUATION OF A PARALLEL LINE
Math Usage: Lines that are parallel are lines in the same plane that never intersect.
Write an equation in slope-intercept
* ) * ) form of the line that passes through the given point and is parallel to the
Using symbols:
graph of the given equation.
AB 6 CD means line AB is parallel to line CD.

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Example: The stripes on the American flag are parallel.
$
1. (12,5); 𝑦 = / 𝑥 − 1 2. (−3, −1); 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 3 3. (1, −3); 𝑦 + 2 = 4(𝑥 − 1)
Use Your Vocabulary

Picture A Picture B Picture C

Complete each sentence with parallel or perpendicular.

3. The railroad tracks in Picture A are 9.

4. The window bars in Picture B that do NOT meet are 9.

4. (4,2); 𝑥 = −3 5. (1,5); 𝑦 = −2
5. The roads in Picture C are 9.

Chapter 5 158

HSM11A1MC_0506.indd 158 2/19/09 6:34:19 AM

6. Write an equation for the line that is parallel to the given line and that passes through the given point.

a) b)

You can use slope to determine whether two lines are perpendicular. Perpendicular lines are lines that
intersect to form right angles.

KEY CONCEPT: SLOPES OF PERPENDICULAR LINES

Two nonvertical lines are perpendicular if the product of their slopes is -1. A
vertical line and a horizontal line are also perpendicular.

#
The graph of 𝑦 = $ 𝑥 − 1 has a slope of ½ . The graph of 𝑦 = −2𝑥 + 1 has a
#
slope of -2. Since (−2) = −1, the lines are perpendicular.
$

Two numbers whose product is -1 are opposite reciprocals. So, the slopes of perpendicular lines are opposite
/ 2
reciprocals of each other. To find the opposite reciprocal of − , for example, first find the reciprocal, − .
2 /
2 / 2 2 /
Then write its opposite, /. Since − 2 3/4 = −1, / is the opposite reciprocal of − 2.

PROBLEM 2: WRITING THE EQUATION OF A PERPENDICULAR LINE

Write an equation in slope-intercept form of the line that passes through the given point and is perpendicular
to the graph of the given equation.

#
7. (2,4); 𝑦 = / 𝑥 − 1 8. (1,8); 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 1 9. (5,0); 𝑦 + 1 = −3(𝑥 − 4)
10. (−3,2); 2𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 7 11. (1,2); 𝑥 = 4

12. Write an equation for the line that is perpendicular to the given line and that passes through the given
point.

a) b)

PROBLEM 3: CLASSIFYING LINES

Determine whether the graphs of the given equations are parallel, perpendicular, or neither.
/
13. 4𝑦 = −5𝑥 + 12 14. 𝑦 = 2 𝑥 + 7 15. 𝑥 + 6𝑦 = 6
2 #
and 𝑦 = 9 𝑥 − 8 and 4𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 9 and 𝑦 = − ; 𝑥 + 6
 Park Road. The path will be perpen
line representing the bike path.
PROBLEM 4: SOLVING A REAL-WORLD PROBLEM
16. A path for a new city park will connect the park entrance to
Park Road. The path should be perpendicular to Park Road. Park y park y
What is an equation that represents the path? entrance
4

d
ne

a
Ro
2 pe

rk
to

Pa
x
!2 O 2 4
17. A bike path is being planned for the park. The bike path will
be parallel to Park Road and will pass through the park entrance.
What is an equation of the line that represents the bike path?

Step 1 Find the slope m of Park R

y2 2 y1
Real-World Connection m = x 2 x = 45 2
21=4
2 2
2 1
Careers Urban planners use
mathematics to make Step 2 Find the negative reciproca
decisions on community
problems such as traffic The negative reciprocal of 2
congestion and air pollution. The y-intercept is 4.
The equation for the bike path is y

Quick Check 4 A second bike path is planned. It wi

contain the park entrance. Write an
bike path. y ≠ 2x ± 4
Less
Name __________________________________________________________ Period _________
5-6 Practice Worksheet

Find the slope of a line parallel to the graph of each equation.

1. 7x − y = 5 2. y = 5

Are the graphs of the lines in each pair parallel?

1
y = x+3 y = 4x +12
3. 3 4.
−4x + 3y = 21
x − 3y = 6

2
5. Write an equation for the line that is parallel to y = − x +12 and passes through ( 5, −3) .
3

Find the slope of a line perpendicular to the graph of each equation.

x
6. y = − − 7 7. y = −8
5

8. Write an equation for the line that is perpendicular to −10x + 8y = 3 and passes through (15,12 ) .

9. A city’s civil engineer is planning a new parking garage and a new street. The new street will go
from the entrance of the parking garage to Handel St. It will be perpendicular to Handel St. What is
the equation of the line representing the new street?
Tell whether the lines for each pair of equations are parallel, perpendicular, or neither.
3 x
y = 4x + y= −4
4 3x − 5y = 3 3
10. 11. 12.
1 −5x + 3y = 8 1
y=− x+4 y = x+2
4 3

ax − by = 5 ax + by = 8
13. 14.
−ax + by = 2 bx − ay = 1

15. For what value of k are the graphs of 3x +12y = 8 and 6y = kx − 5 parallel?

16. For what value of k are the graphs of 3x +12y = 8 and 6y = kx − 5 perpendicular?

17. A parallelogram has vertices A(0,2), B(2,-1), C(6,3), and D(p,q). Which of the following ordered
pairs has possible values for (p,q)?
(a) (0,6) (b) (6,1) (c) (4,6) (d) (6,4)

18. Suppose the line through points (x,6) and (1,2) is parallel to the graph of 2x + y = 3 . Find the value
of x. Show your work