Skip to main content
Mathematics LibreTexts

1.4: Parallel Lines

  • Page ID
    34120
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)\(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \(\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)\(\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    Two lines are parallel if they do not meet, no matter how far they are extended. The symbol for parallel is \(||\). In Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\), \(\stackrel{\leftrightarrow}{A B}\) \(||\) \(\stackrel{\leftrightarrow}{C D}\). The arrow marks are used to indicate the lines are parallel.

    clipboard_e7536272739229d76e2e887caf98d947d.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): \(\stackrel{\leftrightarrow}{A B}\) and \(\widehat{C D}\) are parallel.They do not meet no matter how far they are extended.
    clipboard_e64451ffba7441a9eb69a5db163251ef6.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): \(\stackrel{\leftrightarrow}{\mathrm{EF}}\) and \(\stackrel{\leftrightarrow}{\mathrm{GH}}\) are not parallel. They meet at point \(P\).

    We make the following assumption about parallel lines, called the parallel postulate.

    Theorem \(\PageIndex{1}\): Parallel Postulate

    The probabilities assigned to events by a distribution function on a sample space are given by

    Through a point not on a given line one and only one line can be drawn parallel to the given line. So in Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\), there is exactly one line that can be drawn through \(C\) that is parallel to \(\overleftarrow{\mathrm{AB}}\).

    clipboard_e41334a3b64ddfbbfc2a8e425c2b9f23a.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): There is exactly one line that can be drawn through \(C\) parallel to \(\overrightarrow{\mathrm{AB}}\).
    clipboard_e45c24a1d4ca4a0623009ef03444e7a45.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): \(\overleftrightarrow{EF}\) is a transversal.

    A transversal is a line that intersects two other lines at two distinct points. In Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\), \(\overleftrightarrow{EF}\) is a transversal. \(\angle x\) and \(\angle x^{\prime}\) are called alternate interior angles of lines \(\overleftrightarrow{AB}\) and \(\overleftrightarrow{CD}\). The word "alternate," here, means that the angles are on different sides of the transversal, one angle formed with \(\overleftrightarrow{AB}\) and the other formed with \(\overleftrightarrow{CD}\). The word "interior" means that they are between the two lines. Notice that they form the letter "\(Z\)." (Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\)). \(\angle y\) and \(\angle y^{\prime}\) are also alternate interior angles. They also form a "\(Z\)" though It is stretched out and backwards. Viewed from the side, the letter "\(Z\)" may also look like an "\(N\)."

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午4.08.25.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\): Alternate interior form the letters "\(Z\)" or "\(N\)". The letter may be stretched out or backwards.

    Alternate interior angles are important because of the following theorem:

    Theorem \(\PageIndex{1}\) The "Z" Theorem

    If two lines are parallel then their alternate interior angles are equal, If the alternate interior angles of two lines are equal then the lines must 'oe parallel,

    In Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\), \(\overleftrightarrow{AB}\) must be parallel to \(\overleftrightarrow{CD}\) because the alternate interior angles are both \(30^{\circ}\). Notice that the other pair of alternate interior angles, \(\angle y\) and \(\angle y'\), are also equal. They are both \(150^{\circ}\). In Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\), the lines are not parallel and none of the alternate interior angles are equal.

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午4.13.23.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\): The lines are parallel and their alternate interior angles are equal.
    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午4.14.25.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\): The lines are not parallel and their alternate interior angles are not equal.

    The Proof of Theorem \(\PageIndex{1}\) is complicated and will be deferred to the appendix.

    Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Find \(x, y\) and \(z\):

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午4.16.24.png

    Solution

    \(\overleftrightarrow{AB} || \overleftrightarrow{CD}\) since the arrows indicate parallel lines. \(x^{\circ} = 40^{\circ}\) because alternate interior angles of parallel lines are equal. \(y^{\circ} = z^{\circ} = 180^{\circ} - 40^{\circ} = 140^{\circ}\).

    Answer: \(x = 40, y = 140, z = 140\).

    Corresponding angles of two lines are two angles which are on the same side of the two lines and the same side of the transversal, In Figure \(\PageIndex{8}\), \(\angle w\) and \(\angle w'\) are corresponding angles of lines \(\overleftrightarrow{AB}\) and \(\overleftrightarrow{CD}\). They form the letter "\(F\)." \(\angle x\) and \(\angle x'\), \(\angle y\) and \(\angle y'\), and \(\angle z\) and \(\angle z'\) are other pairs of corresponding angles of \(\overleftrightarrow{AB}\) and \(\overleftrightarrow{CD}\). They all form the letter "\(F\)", though it might be a backwards or upside down "\(F\)" (Figure \(\PageIndex{9}\)).

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午4.22.02.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{8}\): Four pairs of corresponding angles are illustrated.
    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午4.23.14.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{9}\): Corresponding angles form the letter "\(F\)," though it may be a backwards or upside down "\(F\)."

    Corresponding angles are important because of the following theorem:

    Theorem \(\PageIndex{2}\): The "F" Theorem

    If two lines are parallel then their corresponding angles are equal. If the corresponding angles of two lines are equal then the lines must be parallel.

    Example \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Find \(x\):

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午4.27.47.png

    Solution

    The arrow indicate \(\overleftrightarrow{AB} || \overleftrightarrow{CD}\). Therefore \(x^{\circ} = 110^{\circ}\) because \(x^{\circ}\) and \(110^{\circ}\) are the measures of corresponding angles of the parallel lines \(\overleftrightarrow{AB}\) and \(\overleftrightarrow{CD}\).

    Answer: \(x = 110\).

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午4.30.02.png
    Figure \(PageIndex{10}\): Each pair of corresponding angles is equal.

    Notice that we can now find all the other angles in Example \(PageIndex{2}\). Each one is either supplementary to one of the \(110^{\circ}\) angles or forms equal vertical angles with one of them (Figure \(PageIndex{10}\)). Therefore all the corresponding angles are equal, Also each pair of alternate interior angles is equal. It is not hard to see that if just one pair of corresponding angles or one pair of alternate interior angles are equal then so are all other pairs of corresponding and alternate interior angles.

    Proof of Theorem \(\PageIndex{2}\): The corresponding angles will be equal if the alternate interior angles are equal and vice versa. Therefore Theorem \(\PageIndex{2}\) follows directly from Therorem \(\PageIndex{1}\).

    In Figure \(\PageIndex{11}\), \(\angle x\) and \(\angle x'\) are called interior angles on the same side of the transversal.(In some textbooks, interior angles on the same sdie of the transversal are called cointerior angles.) \(\angle y\) and \(\angle y'\) are also interior angles on the same side of the transversal, Notice that each pair of angles forms the letter "\(C\)." Compare Figure \(\PageIndex{11}\) with Figure 10 and also with Example \(\PageIndex{1}\), The following theorem is then apparent:

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午4.37.30.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{11}\): Interior angles on the same side of the transversal form the letter "\(C\)". It may also be a backwards "\(C\)."
    Theorem \(\PageIndex{3}\):The "C" Theorem

    If two lines are parallel then the interior angles on the same side of the transversal are supplementary (they add uP to \(180^{\circ}\)). If the interior angles of two lines on the same side of the transversal are supplementary then the lines must be parallel.

    Example \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    Find \(x\) and the marked angles:

    Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 4.47.31 PM.png

    Solution

    The lines are parallel so by Theorem \(\PageIndex{3}\) the two labelled angles must be supplementary.

    \[\begin{array} {rcl} {x + 2x + 30} & = & {180} \\ {3x + 30} & = & {180} \\ {3x} & = & {180 - 30} \\ {3x} & = & {150} \\ {x} & = & {50} \end{array}\]

    \(\angle CHG = x = 50^{\circ}\)

    \(\angle AGH = 2x + 30 = 2(50) + 30 = 100 + 30 = 130^{\circ}\).

    Check:

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午4.49.04.png

    Answer: \(x = 50\), \(\angle CHG = 50^{\circ}\), \(\angle AGHa = 130^{\circ}\).

    Example \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    Find \(x\) and the marked angles:

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午4.50.26.png

    Solution

    \(\angle BEF = 3x + 40^{\circ}\) because vertical angles are equal. \(\angle BEF\) and \(\angle DFE\) are interior angles on the same side of the transversal, and therefore are supplementary because the lines are parallel.

    \[\begin{array} {rcl} {3x + 40 + 2x + 50} & = & {180} \\ {5x + 90} & = & {180} \\ {5x} & = & {180 - 90} \\ {5x} & = & {90} \\ {x} & = & {18} \end{array}\]

    \(\angle AEC = 3x + 40 = 3(18) + 40 = 54 + 40 = 94^{\circ}\)

    \(\angle DFE = 2x + 50 = 2(18) + 50 = 36 + 50 = 86^{\circ}\)

    Check:

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午4.54.28.png

    Answer: \(x = 18\), \(\angle AEG = 94^{\circ}\), \(\angle DFE = 86^{\circ}\).

    Example \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    List all pairs of alternate interior angles in the diagram, (The single arrow indicates \(\overleftrightarrow{AB}\) is parallel to \(\overleftrightarrow{CD}\) and the double arrow indicates \(\overleftrightarrow{AD}\) is parallel to \(\overleftrightarrow{BC}\).

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午4.59.29.png

    Solution

    We see if a letter \(Z\) or \(N\) can be formed using the line segments in the diagram (Figure \(\PageIndex{12}\)),

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午5.00.47.png

    Answer: \(\angle DCA\) and \(\angle CAB\) are alternate interior angles of lines \(\overleftrightarrow{AB}\) and \(\overleftrightarrow{CD}\). \(\angle DAC\) and \(\angle ACB\) are alternate interior angles of lines \(\overleftrightarrow{AD}\) and \(\overleftrightarrow{BC}\)

    Example \(\PageIndex{6}\)

    A telescope is pointed at a star \(70^{\circ}\) above the horizon, What angle \(x^{\circ}\) must the mirror \(BD\) make with the horizontal so that the star can be seen in the eyepiece \(E\)?

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午5.03.38.png

    Solution

    \(x^{\circ} = \angle BCE\) because they are alternate interior angles of parallel lines \(\overleftrightarrow{AB}\) and \(\overleftrightarrow{CE}\). \(\angle DCF = \angle BCE = x^{\circ}\) because the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection. Therefore

    \[\begin{array} {rcl} {x + 70 + x} & = & {180} \\ {2x + 70} & = & {180} \\ {2x} & = & {110} \\ {x} & = & {55} \end{array}\]

    Answer: \(55^{\circ}\)

    SUMMARY

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午5.07.41.png

    Alternate interior angles of paralle lines are equal. They form the letter "\(Z\)."

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午5.09.05.png

    Corresponding angles of parallel lines are equal. They form the letter "\(F\)."

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午5.10.33.png

    Interior angles on the same sides of the transversal of parallel lines are supplementary. They form the letter "\(G\)."

    Historical Note

    The parallel postulate given earlier in this section is the equivalent of the fifth postulate of Euclid's Elements. Euclid was correct in assuming it as a postulate rather than trying to prove it as a theorem, However this did not become clear to the mathematical world until the nineteenth century, 2200 years later, In the interim, scores of prominent mathematicians attempted unsuccessfully to give a satisfactory proof of the parallel postulate. They felt that it was not as self-evident as a postulate should be, and that it required some formal justification,

    In 1826, N, I, Lobachevsky, a Russian mathematician, presented a system of geometry based on the assumption that through a given point more than one straight line can be drawn parallel to a given line (Figure \(\PageIndex{13}\)). In 1854, the German mathematician Georg Bernhard Riemann proFosed a system of geometriJ in which there are no parallel lines at all, A gecmetry in which the parallel postulate has been replaced by some other postulate is called a non-Euclidean geometry. The existence of these geometries shows that the parallel postulate need not necessarily be true. Indeed Einstein used the geometry of Riemann as the basis for his theory of relativity.

    屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午5.17.02.png
    Figure \(PageIndex{13}\): In the geometry of Lobachevsky, more than one line can be drawn through \(C\) parallel to \(AB\).

    Of course our original parallel postulate makes the most sense for ordinary applications, and we use it throughout this book, However, for applications where great distances are involved, such as in astronomy, it may well be that a non-Euclidean geometry gives a better approximation of physical reality.

    Problems

    For each of the following, state the theorem(s) used in obtaining your answer (for example, "alternate interior angles of parallel lines are equal"). Lines marked with the same arrow are assumed to be parallel,

    1 - 2. Find \(x, y\), and \(z\):

    1. 屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午5.19.34.png 2. 屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午5.21.13.png

    3 - 4. Find \(t\), \(u\), \(v\), \(w\), \(x\), \(y\), and \(z\):

    3. 屏幕快照 2020-10-29 下午5.22.20.png 4. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.28.25 PM.png

    5 - 10. Find \(x\):

    5. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.28.56 PM.png 6. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.29.13 PM.png

    7. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.29.49 PM.png 8. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.30.11 PM.png

    9. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.30.39 PM.png 10. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.31.02 PM.png

    11 - 18. Find \(x\) and the marked angles:

    11. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.31.30 PM.png 12. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.31.47 PM.png

    13. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.32.14 PM.png 14. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.32.31 PM.png

    15. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.32.59 PM.png16. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.33.18 PM.png

    17. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.33.42 PM.png 18. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.34.06 PM.png

    19 - 26. For each of the following, list all pairs of alternate interior angles and corresponding angles, If there are none, then list all pairs of interior angles on the same side of the transversal. Indicate the parallel lines which form each pair of angles.

    19. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.34.38 PM.png 20. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.34.58 PM.png

    21. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.35.23 PM.png 22. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.35.57 PM.png

    23. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.36.32 PM.png 24. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.39.45 PM.png

    25. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.40.40 PM.png 26. Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.40.56 PM.png

    27. A telescope is pointed at a star \(50^{\circ}\) above the horizon. What angle \(x^{\circ}\) must the mirror \(BD\) make wiht the horizontal so that the star can be seen in the eyepiece \(E\)?

    Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.41.44 PM.png

    28. A periscope is used by sailors in a submarine to see objects on the surface of the water, If \(\angle ECF = 90^{\circ}\), what angle \(x^{\circ}\) does the mirror \(BD\) make with the horizontal?

    Screen Shot 2020-10-29 at 5.42.13 PM.png


    This page titled 1.4: Parallel Lines is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Henry Africk (New York City College of Technology at CUNY Academic Works) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.