# Perpendicular Lines

Perpendicular lines are formed when two lines meet each other at the right angle. This property of lines is said to be perpendicularity. We can also say when a line intersects another line at 90 degrees, then it is perpendicular to it. It states that one line is at the right angle to another line when they meet at a point. It is represented by the symbol, ‘‘. Suppose, l1 and l2 are two lines intersecting each other at 90 degrees, then they are perpendicular to each other and is represented as l1⊥l2. The point of intersection is called the foot of the perpendicular.

In contradiction to perpendicular lines, in Geometry, we have parallel lines, which are parallel to each other and does not meet at any point. Perpendicularity is just not limited to lines but it also extends to line segments. Suppose PQ and RS are two line segments, then PQ perpendicular to RS is shown by PQ⊥RS.

When a line is perpendicular to the plane, then it is said to be perpendicular to all the points in the plane or perpendicular to each line in the plane that it intersects. Two planes are said to be perpendicular in space if the dihedral angle at which they meet the plane is a right angle.

## Construction of Perpendicular Lines

Construction of the perpendicular line is a very simple process. The angle between the two lines should be equal to 90 degrees. So to construct perpendicular lines, you will need a compass and a straight line ruler or scale. Follow the below steps to draw it:

• Draw a horizontal line first.
• With the help of compass draw an arc at the centre of the line say point O, such that it intersects the line at two points and at equidistant from O. Let the two points be P and Q.
• Again at point P and Q, draw the arc inside, such that the two arcs intersect each other at the top and bottom of the horizontal line.
• Now join the two-point where the two arcs intersect each other.
• Now, the line obtained is perpendicular to the horizontal line.

### Slope of Perpendicular Lines

Suppose two lines AB and CD are perpendicular to each other. The slope of line AB is m1 and slope of other line CD is m2.

Two lines are perpendicular to each other if and only if the product of the slope of the two lines equals minus of unity.

Thus, the formula for the slope of the perpendicular is given as:

m1.m2 = -1

In the case of the parallel line, the slope of the two lines is parallel to each other.

m1 = m2

### Perpendicular Line Examples

We know that if a ray is rotated about its end-point, the measure of its rotation is called angle between its initial and final position. The value of any angle is proportional to its amount of rotation and the sense of its rotation. Clearly, the greater the amount of rotation, the larger will be the angle formed. A special case of angles is a right angle, in which the measure of rotation of a ray is 90o. When two lines or surfaces intersect to form right angles then such lines or surfaces are said to be perpendicular to each other.

Consider the following two-line segments $\overline{AB}$ and $\overline{CD}$  . These line segments are perpendicular to each other as they intersect at 90o at point X. Thus, both the line segments have a common intersection point i.e. X and are right angles to each other.

Perpendicular lines lie in the same plane i.e. they are co-planar and intersect at right angles.  Thus it implies that if you have two lines which are perpendicular to each other, then these lines will be at right angles and vice versa.

Using just a compass one can draw a perpendicular to a line. These straightedge techniques were developed by ancient Greeks. In case of co-ordinate geometry, a line is said to be perpendicular only if the slope of a line has a definite relationship.

If you simply look around you will find numerous examples of perpendicular lines and surfaces. The corners of the wall intersect each other at right angles, the tiles in the kitchen or the washroom, the intersection of roads at squares, hands of a clock when it strikes exactly three’ O clock,  the corners of your desk or the doors are examples illustrating perpendicularity.