How Do You Write Equations Of Perpendicular & Parallel Lines?
Parallel lines are straight lines that extend to infinity without touching at any point. Perpendicular lines cross each other at a 90-degree angle. Both sets of lines are important for many geometric proofs, so it is important to recognize them graphically and algebraically. You must know the structure of a straight-line equation before you can write equations for parallel or perpendicular lines. The standard form of the equation is “y = mx + b,” in which “m” is the slope of the line and “b” is the point where the line crosses the y-axis. Write the equation for the first line and identify the slope and y-intercept. Example: y = 4x + 3 m = slope = 4 b = y-intercept = 3 Copy the first half of the equation for the parallel line. A line is parallel to another if their slopes are identical. Example: Original line: y = 4x + 3 Parallel line: y = 4x Choose a y-intercept different from the original line. Regardless of the magnitude of the new y-intercept, as long as the slope is identical, the
