Are the two lines L1  through (-1,4) and (0,4) and L2 through  (5,6) and (5,2) parallel, perpendicular or neither?

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

To determine if lines are parallel, perpendicular or neither, we need o determine each line's slope.

If slopes are equals then they are parallel.

Let us calculate L1 slope (m1)

m1= (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) = (4-4)/(0+1)= 0

slope 0 means that the line L1 is horizontal or parallel to the x-axis.

Now the slope for L2 (m2):

m2= (y2-y1)/(x2-x1)= (2-6)/(5-5)= -4/0    Undefined slope

Undefined slopes means that the line L2 is vertical or parallel with y-axis

Then the lines L1 and L2 are perpendicular.

See eNotes Ad-Free

Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial