Parallel

Definition

Parallel lines are lines in a plane that never intersect. They have the same slope but different y-intercepts.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Two linear equations are parallel if their slopes are equal.
2. Parallel lines will never meet, no matter how far they are extended.
3. If two lines have different slopes, they cannot be parallel.
4. The distance between two parallel lines is always constant.
5. $y = 2x + 3$ and $y = 2x - 4$ are examples of parallel lines because they share the same slope of 2.

Review Questions

• How can you determine if two linear equations are parallel?
• What do parallel lines have in common, and what is always different?
• Give an example of two linear equations that represent parallel lines.

Related terms

Slope:

The measure of the steepness or incline of a line represented by 'm' in the equation $y = mx + b$.

Y-Intercept: The point where a line crosses the y-axis, represented by 'b' in the equation $y = mx + b$.

Perpendicular Lines:

Lines that intersect at a right angle (90 degrees) and have slopes that are negative reciprocals of each other.