Determine from the given points of two lines if the lines are parallel, perpendicular, or neither. Enter your answers below. Use a forward slash (i.e. "/") for all fractions (e.g. 1/2 for 12).

Question

Line a: (−3,1) and (−7,−2) Line b: (2,−1) and (8,4)

Answer 1

To check whether two lines are parallel or perpendicular we need to compare their slopes.

The slope of line a is (-2-1) / (-7-(-3)) = -3 / -4 = 3/4.

The slope of line b is (4-(-1)) / (8-2) = 5 / 6.

If the two lines were parallel their slopes would be equal. If the two lines were perpendicular their slopes would be negative reciprocals. Thus they are neither.