7.

4 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

Controlling the movement of your body

is important when you play sports or
exercise. The words parallel and
perpendicular describe the position of
one thing relative to another. Athletes
may need to visualize parallel and
perpendicular lines to help them improve
their performance. For example,
Focus on …
• identifying whether • A football coach may instruct quarter-
two lines are parallel, backs to position their shoulders perpen-
perpendicular, or neither dicular to the target at which they are
• writing the equation throwing the ball.
of a line using the • The gymnast in the photo has trained
coordinates of a point
hard to keep her legs parallel to her arms.
on the line and the
equation of a parallel
or perpendicular line
• solving problems
involving parallel and
perpendicular lines

Materials Investigate Slopes of Parallel and

• two sheets of identical
grid paper Perpendicular Lines
• scissors 1. On a sheet of grid paper, y C
• ruler
create a coordinate system by
6
drawing and labelling an x-axis
and a y-axis. From another D 4
sheet of grid paper, cut out B
the following three shapes: 2 (4, 3)

• a square with side length of A

5 units -4 -2 0 (0, 0) 2 4 x
• a square with side length of -2
13 units
• a rectangle with side lengths -4
that are whole units. Draw a
diagonal across the rectangle.

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 2. For the smaller square, label the vertices A, B, C, and D in a
counterclockwise direction. Position the square so that point A
is at (0, 0) and point B is at (4, 3). What are the coordinates of
vertices C and D? Determine the slope of each side. Compare
the slopes of the opposite sides and the adjacent sides.

3. Repeat step 2 using the larger square. Position the square with
point A at (0, 0) and B at (12, 5).

4. Position the rectangle on your coordinate system. Determine

the slope of each side. Hint: Line up the vertices with the
integer coordinates of the grid. Compare the slopes.

5. Compare the slopes of the diagonals formed by rotating the

rectangle 90° about one vertex. Discuss your results with
a classmate.
y

fixed vertex
-2 0 2 4 6 x

-2

6. Reflect and Respond How are the slopes of parallel sides

related? Explain using an example.

7. How are the slopes of perpendicular sides related? Explain

using an example.

8. a) How are the slopes of vertical sides related?

b) How are the slopes of a vertical and a horizontal
side related?

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 Link the Ideas
Parallel lines have the same slope but different intercepts. This parallel lines
includes horizontal lines, which have a slope of zero. Vertical • lines in the same plane
lines, which have an undefined slope, are also parallel. that do not intersect
• lines that have the
y L1 L2 L1 y L2 same slope but
different intercepts
4 4

2 2

-4 -2 0 2 4 x -4 -2 0 2 4 x

-2 -2
m1 is m2 is
m1 = 2 m2 = 2 undefined. undefined.
-4 -4

m1 = m2 m1 and m2 are undefined.

The slopes of perpendicular lines are negative reciprocals of perpendicular lines

each other. The product of negative reciprocals is -1. A vertical • two lines that intersect
line, which has an undefined slope, and a horizontal line, which at right angles (90°)
has a slope of 0, are perpendicular to each other. • lines that have slopes
that are negative
y y L2 reciprocals of each
L2 L1
1 other.
m2 = – – 4
m2 is
2 4
m1 = 2 undefined.

2 2
L1 m1 = 0

x -4 -2 0 2 4 x
-4 -2 0 2 4

-2 -2

-4 -4

1 m1 = 0 and m2 is undefined.
( )
m1(m2) = 2 – –
2
m1(m2) = –1

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 Example 1 Identify Parallel and Perpendicular Lines
State whether the lines in each pair are parallel, perpendicular,
or neither.
a) y = 3x - 6 b) y = 4x + 3 c) y = 2x + 6
_
1
y=- x+4 y = 4x - 5 6x + 3y + 3 = 0
3

Solution
a) The slope of the line y = 3x - 6 is 3. How can you verify

The slope of the line y = - _1 x + 4 is - _

1. that two values are
3 3 negative reciprocals

Since the slopes, 3 and - _

1 , are negative of each other?
3
reciprocals, the lines are perpendicular.

b) The slope of the line y = 4x + 3 is 4. The slope of the line

y = 4x - 5 is also 4. The slopes are equal. So, the lines
are parallel.
How do you know the
lines are not equivalent?

c) The slope of line y = 2x + 6 is 2. To determine the slope

of the line 6x + 3y + 3 = 0, rewrite the equation in
slope-intercept form, y = mx + b.
6x + 3y + 3 = 0
3y + 3 = -6x
_3y
= __
-6x - 3
3 3
y = -2x - 1
The slope of the line
y = -2x - 1 is -2. The
slopes 2 and -2 are not
equal and they are not
negative reciprocals.
Therefore, the two lines are
neither parallel nor
perpendicular.

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 Your Turn
Determine whether the lines in each pair are parallel,
perpendicular, or neither.
_1
a) y = x - 7 b) y = 3x - 4
_2
c) y = x - 6
2 5
y = 2x - 7 y = 3x + _
1 5x + 2y = 8
4

Example 2 Write an Equation Involving a Parallel Line

a) Write the equation of a line that is parallel to 2x - y + 4 = 0
and through (1, -6). Express the equation in slope-intercept
form.
b) Write the equation in general form.
c) Use technology to verify that the lines are parallel.

Solution
a) The slope of the line will be equal to the slope of 2x - y + 4 = 0.
To find the slope, convert 2x - y + 4 = 0 to slope-intercept
form, y = mx + b.
2x - y + 4 = 0
2x - y + 4 + y = 0 + y
2x + 4 = y or y = 2x + 4
The slope of the line y = 2x + 4 is 2.
Method 1: Use Slope-Point Form
Substitute 2 for m and the coordinates of the point (1, -6)
for (x1, y1).
y - y1 = m(x - x1)
y - (-6) = 2(x - 1)
y + 6 = 2(x - 1)
To convert to slope-intercept form, isolate y.
y + 6 = 2(x - 1)
y + 6 = 2x - 2
y = 2x - 2 - 6
y = 2x - 8
The equation of the line, in slope-intercept form, is y = 2x - 8.

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 Method 2: Use Slope-Intercept Form
The point (1, -6) lies on the line, so the coordinates must satisfy
the equation of the line. Substitute 2 for m and the coordinates
(1, -6) for (x, y). Then, determine the y-intercept and rewrite
the equation.
y = mx + b
-6 = 2(1) + b
-6 - 2 = b
-8 = b
Substitute the values for m and b into y = mx + b.
y = 2x + (-8)
y = 2x - 8
The slope-intercept form of the equation is y = 2x - 8.

b) Convert the slope-point equation to general form.

y + 6 = 2(x - 1)
y + 6 - (y + 6) = 2(x - 1) - (y + 6)
0 = 2x - 2 - y - 6
0 = 2x - y - 8
The equation of the line, in general form, is 2x - y - 8 = 0.

c) The graph to the right

shows the original line and
the new line, represented by
their equations in slope-
interecept form.
The equation of original line
is y = 2x + 4
The equation of original line
is y = 2x - 8.
The slope-intercept form of the lines and the graph both show
that the slopes of the lines are the same, but the y-intercepts are
different. Therefore the lines are parallel.

Your Turn
Write the equation of a line that is parallel to 3x + y + 3 = 0 and
passes through (5, -6). Express the equation in slope-intercept
form and in general form. Use technology to verify that the lines
are parallel.

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 Example 3 Write an Equation Involving a Perpendicular Line
Write the equation of a line perpendicular to 3x + 2y - 6 = 0 with
an x-intercept of 9. Express the equation in slope-intercept form
and in general form.

Solution
To determine the slope of 3x + 2y - 6 = 0, rewrite the equation in
slope-intercept form.
3x + 2y - 6 = 0
The reciprocal of
2y = -3x + 6
- _ is - _
y = -_
3 2 . So, the
3x + 3 2 3
2 negative reciprocal is
The slope of the line y = - _3 x + 3 is - _
3.
- -_ 2 or _ 2
2 2 ( )3 3
.

The negative reciprocal of - _3 is _

2.
2 3
Therefore, the slope of a line perpendicular to the given line is _ 2.
3
Substitute _2 for m and the coordinates of the point (9, 0) for (x , y )
3 1 1

into the slope-point form of an equation.

y - y1 = m(x - x1) How else could you find
_
2
y - 0 = (x - 9)
the equation of the line?
3
y=_ 2 (x - 9)
3
For slope-intercept form, y = mx + b, expand the
slope-point equation.
y=_ 2 (x - 9)
3
y=_ 2 x - 93 _
2
( )
3 3
_
2
y= x-6
1

3
For general form, Ax + By + C = 0, rearrange the
slope-intercept equation.
y=_ 2x - 6 What other equation could you
3 use to convert to general form?
3y = 2x - 18 Why might some people choose
0 = 2x - 3y - 18 to use that equation in this solution?

The equation of a line perpendicular to 3x + 2y - 6 = 0 with an

x-intercept of 9 is y = _
2 x - 6 in slope-intercept form. Written in
3
general form, the equation is 2x - 3y - 18 = 0.

Your Turn
A line is perpendicular to 4x + y - 12 = 0 and passes through
(8, -6). Write the equation of the line in either slope-intercept
form or general form.

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 Key Ideas
• Parallel lines have the same slope and different intercepts.
Vertical lines are parallel to each other, as are horizontal lines, if
they have different intercepts.
• Perpendicular lines have slopes that are negative reciprocals
of each other. A vertical line with an undefined slope and a
horizontal line with a slope of zero are also perpendicular.
• The properties of parallel and perpendicular lines can give
information about the slopes. Knowing the slopes can help you
develop an equation.
A line perpendicular to y = 5x + 7 has the same y-intercept.
The line y = 5x + 7 has a slope of 5 and a y-intercept of 7.
The perpendicular line has a slope of - _
1 and a y-intercept
5
of 7. So, the equation of the perpendicular line is y = - _
1 x + 7.
5
y

8 1
y = -– x + 7
(0, 7) 5
6

y = 5x + 7
2

-6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 x

-2

Check Your Understanding

Practise
1. For a line with each slope, state the slope of a line parallel
to it. What is the slope of a line perpendicular to it?
a) m = 5 b) m = -7

c) m = -
_1 d) m =
_6
3 7
e) m = 0.5 f) m = -0.75
g) m = 0 h) m is undefined.

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 2. State the slopes of lines that are parallel and lines that are
perpendicular to each linear equation.
_3
a) y = x + 4
7
b) y = -x + 9
c) 3x + y - 5 = 0
d) 2x + y + 11 = 0
e) 3x - 2y + 6 = 0
f) 5x + 4y - 20 = 0
g) y = 7
h) x + 3 = 0

3. Consider the line joining points P(-6, 9) and Q(-2, 1).

a) What is the slope of a line parallel to this line?
b) What is the slope of a line perpendicular to this one?

4. For each pair of slopes, what is the value of n if the lines are
parallel? What is the value of n if the lines are perpendicular?
a)
_
n,2 b)
_
24 , - _
1
10 n 3
c)
_
3 , _
n _
3
d) , -
_7
2 9 n 2
5. Identify whether each pair of lines is parallel, perpendicular, or
neither. Explain how you know.
a) y = -6x b) y =
_1 x + 3
5
y = 6x + 1 y = -5x - 4
c) y = -x + 8
_3
d) y = x + 5
4
x+y=2 4x + 3y = 6
e) 5x + 2y - 10 = 0 f) 3x - 4y - 24 = 0
2x + 5y + 10 = 0 4x + 3y - 12 = 0

6. Write an equation of a line that is parallel to each line and passes

through the given point.
a) y = 2x + 5, (1, -6)
b) y = -3x + 7, (-2, 5)
c) 5x + y - 1 = 0, (3, -8)
d) 6x - 2y + 10 = 0, (3, -5)
e) y = 8, (3, 4)
f) x - 5 = 0, (-1, -8)

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 7. Write an equation of a line that passes through each point and is
perpendicular to each line.
a) y = 3x + 5, (9, 5)
b) y = -4x + 7, (-12, -7)
c) x + 3y + 4 = 0, (5, -9)
d) 4x - 3y - 6 = 0, (-2, -1)
e) x - 2 = 0, (-3, 7)
f) y = -5, (4, -6)

Apply
8. Sheldon was asked if line segment AB with A(-9, 2) and B(-3, 4)
is parallel to line segment CD with C(-7, -7) and D(1, -3). He
sketches a graph of the two line segments and concludes that they
appear parallel.
a) Is it correct to assume from a sketch that the two line
segments are parallel? Explain.
b) How could you prove that two lines segments are parallel?
c) Is line segment AB parallel to line segment CD? Justify
your answer.

9. Is quadrilateral ABCD with vertices A(-4, 5), B(3, 3), C(5, -3),
and D(-2, -1) a parallelogram? Justify your answer. Hint: A
parallelogram is a quadrilateral with opposite sides parallel.

A(-4, 5) y

4
B(3, 3)

-4 -2 0 2 4 x
D(-2, -1)
-2

C(5, -3)
-4

10. Write the general form equation, Ax + By + C = 0, of a line

that passes through (7, 5) and is
a) parallel to the x-axis
b) perpendicular to the x-axis

11. Line L1 passes through points P(n, 4) and Q(1, -2). Line L2
passes through points R(4, 3) and S(1, 5).
a) What is the value of n if the lines are parallel?
b) If the lines are perpendicular, what is the value of n?

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 12. Prove that ABC with vertices A(-3, 5), B(4, 7), and C(-1, -2) is
a right triangle.

13. Determine an equation representing each line.

a) parallel to 5x + y + 4 = 0 with a y-intercept of -6
b) perpendicular to x + 5y - 10 = 0 with the same y-intercept
as y = 4x - 3
c) perpendicular to 5x + 4y - 2 = 0 with the same x-intercept
as 3x - 5y = 15

14. Triangle ABC has vertices A(-2, 1), B(2, 3), and C(4, -2). Write
Did You Know?
the equation of the line containing the altitude from point B to
side AC. An altitude is a line
segment drawn from a
y
vertex perpendicular to
4 the opposite side.
B (2, 3)

2
A (-2, 1) altitude

-4 -2 0 2 4 x

-2
C (4, -2)

-4

15. The line through (5, n) and (1, -2) is parallel to the line
3x + 2y - 1 = 0. What is the value of n?

16. The centre of a circle is located at C(-4, -2) on a coordinate

Did You Know?
grid. Write the equation of a tangent at point T(5, 1).
A tangent is a line
that touches a circle
at exactly one point. It
is perpendicular to the
tangent radius at that point.

T (5, 1)

C (-4, -2)

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 17. You can monitor your heart rate
while you exercise. The Karvonen
formula states that the target heart
rate during an aerobic workout
should be between H = 0.7(220 - A)
and H = 0.8(220 - A). In the
equations, H represents your target
heart rate and A represents your
age. Predict whether a graph of
these equations would show
parallel lines. Justify your answer.

18. In 1982, the French-Canadian Association of Alberta adopted

the Franco-Albertan flag. Suppose a coordinate grid is laid over
a replica of the flag, with the base along the x-axis and the lower
left corner of the flag at the origin. The three parallel lines in the
flag pass through the points (20, 14), (23, 14), and (23, 12). Write
an equation representing each line.
y

12

10

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 x

Extend
19. What is the value of n if the graphs of nx + 4y + 3 = 0 and
5x - 2y + 6 = 0 are parallel?

20. The lines 6x - ny + 5 = 0 and x + 2y + 4 = 0 are perpendicular.

What is the value of n?

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21. What is the shortest distance between the two lines in the graph?
Explain your reasoning.
y
1

0.5

-1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 x

-0.5

-1

22. Two vertices of right triangle ABC are A(-2, 6) and C(7, 3). If the
right angle is at vertex A and vertex B is on the x-axis, identify
the coordinates of point B.

23. The lines nx + 12y - 2 = 0 and 3x + ny + 6 = 0 are parallel.

What are the possible values of n?

24. Determine the value of n if the lines nx - 2y + 8 = 0 and

3x + ny + 6 = 0 are perpendicular.

Create Connections
25. Is the following statement always true, sometimes true, or never
true? “The slopes of perpendicular lines are always negative
reciprocals of each other.” Explain your reasoning.

26. Suppose you want to determine whether two lines are parallel.
Which form of an equation would you prefer to use? Why?

7.4 Parallel and Perpendicular Lines • MHR 395