Perpendicular Lines jonathanlewisforcongress.com Topical Outline | Geometry Outline | MathBits” Teacher Resources Terms of Use Contact Person: Donna Roberts
NOTE: The strategies for proofs of the theorems stated on this page are “discussed” only. A “formal” proof would require that more details be listed.
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Perpendicular lines (or segments) actually form four right angles, even if only one of the right angles is marked with a box. The statement above is actually a theorem which is discussed further down on this page. You are watching: Two lines that form a right angle |
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There are a couple of common sense concepts relating to perpendicular lines:
| 1. The shortest distance from a point to a line is the perpendicular distance. Any distance, other than the perpendicular distance, from point P to line m will become the hypotenuse of the right triangle. It is known that the hypotenuse of a right triangle is the longest side of the triangle.
See more: My Girlfriend Never Initiates Physical Contact, My Girlfriend Never Initiates Sex  2. In a plane, through a point not on a line, there is one, and only one, perpendicular to the line. See more: Exchange Rate Mauritian Rupees To Us Dollars, 1 Mur To Usd
If we assume there are two perpendiculars to line m from point P, we will create a triangle containing two right angles (which is not possible). Our assumption of two perpendiculars from point P is not possible. |
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Perpendicular lines can also be connected to the concept of parallel lines:
3. In a plane, if a line is perpendicular to one of two parallel lines, it is also perpendicular to the other line. In the diagram at the right, if m | | n and t ⊥ m, then t ⊥ n. The two marked right angles are corresponding angles for parallel lines, and are therefore congruent. Thus, a right angle also exists where line t intersects line n.
In the diagram at the right, if t ⊥ m and s ⊥ m,then t | | s.Since t and s are each perpendicular to line m, we have two right angles where the intersections occur. Since all right angles are congruent, we have congruent corresponding angles which create parallel lines.
By vertical angles, the two angles across from one another are the same size (both 90º). By using a linear pair, the adjacent angles add to 180º, making any angle adjacent to the box another 90º angle.
| When two adjacent angles form a linear pair, their non-shared sides form a straight line (m). This tells us that the measures of the two angles will add to 180º. If these two angles also happen to be congruent (of equal measure), we have two angles of the same size adding to 180º. Each angle will be 90º making m ⊥ n. |
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In the diagram at the left,
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