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Parallel Lines

Parallel lines are lines that do not meet, ever. It's important that we include "ever" in the definition because when we look at some graphs, our lines don't cross. Here's an example:

Graphs of y = 2x +1 and y = x - 8.

Notice how the red and blue lines don't actually meet anywhere on our graph. However, in order to be parallel, our lines can't meet EVER.

Imagine extending both the red and blue lines into infinity. We can see then that they'd eventually cross on their lower halves. Thus, we can say that these two lines are * not parallel.*

Same graphed but zoomed out. The lines intersect.

Here's the same graph just zoomed out. Notice they do intersect.

Graph of y = -3x + 20 and y = -x - 4.

Consider the graph above. Are these two lines parallel?

Choose one answer

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Video

(Video) Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

by Mahalo Math

Mahalo Math has a good video explaining parallel lines.

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To tell if two lines are parallel you can look at their slopes.

Graph of y = 2x + 2 and y = 2x - 1.

Here are two parallel lines.

Parallel lines are lines that never intersect each other. They have the same slope, but different yy-intercepts. Above are two parallel lines:

  • y=2x+2y=\color{Red}{2}x+2
  • y=2x−1y=\color{Red}{2}x-1

Notice that both of these lines have a slope of 22.

Read · 1 min

Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

When two lines are graphed together, the lines will be parallel if they are increasing at the same rate—if the rates of change are the same. In this case, the graphs will never cross (unless they're the same line).

Parallel Lines

Two lines are parallel if the slopes are equal (or, if both lines are vertical). In other words, given two linear equations f(x)=b+m1xf(x)=b+m_1x and g(x)=b+m2x,g(x)=b+m_2x, the lines will be parallel if m1=m2.m_1=m_2. Example 8

Find a line parallel to f(x)=6+3xf(x)=6+3x that passes through the point (3,0)(3,0).

We know the line we're looking for will have the same slope as the given line, m=3m=3. Using this and the given point, we can solve for the new line's vertical intercept: g(x)=b+3g(x)=b+3then at (3,0)(3,0), 0=b+3(3)b=−90=b+3(3)\\ b=-9 The line we're looking for is g(x)=−9+3xg(x)=-9+3x.

Type a concept, like “slope” or “photosynthesis”.

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