Are the pairs of lines parallel, perpendicular, or intersecting?

y = - 2/3 x + 7
-2x - 3y = 12

2x - y = 7
3x - 4y = -8

y - 6 = 1/4 (x + 2)
y = -4x - 10

1 answer

To determine if pairs of lines are parallel, perpendicular, or intersecting, we need to find their slopes.

1st Pair of Lines

  • Line 1: \( y = -\frac{2}{3}x + 7 \)
    Slope (m1) = \(-\frac{2}{3}\)

  • Line 2: Rearranging \( -2x - 3y = 12 \) to slope-intercept form: \[ -3y = 2x + 12 \implies y = -\frac{2}{3}x - 4 \] Slope (m2) = \(-\frac{2}{3}\)

Since the slopes are equal (\(m1 = m2\)), the lines are parallel.


2nd Pair of Lines

  • Line 1: Rearranging \( 2x - y = 7 \) to slope-intercept form: \[ -y = -2x + 7 \implies y = 2x - 7 \] Slope (m1) = \(2\)

  • Line 2: Rearranging \( 3x - 4y = -8 \) to slope-intercept form: \[ -4y = -3x - 8 \implies y = \frac{3}{4}x + 2 \] Slope (m2) = \(\frac{3}{4}\)

Since the slopes are different, we check if they are perpendicular:

  • Two lines are perpendicular if the product of their slopes is \(-1\): \[ 2 \times \frac{3}{4} = \frac{3}{2} \quad (\text{not }-1) \]

Thus, the lines are intersecting.


3rd Pair of Lines

  • Line 1: Rearranging \(y - 6 = \frac{1}{4}(x + 2)\): \[ y - 6 = \frac{1}{4}x + \frac{1}{2} \implies y = \frac{1}{4}x + 6.5 \] Slope (m1) = \(\frac{1}{4}\)

  • Line 2: The equation is already in slope-intercept form \(y = -4x - 10\): Slope (m2) = \(-4\)

Since the slopes are different, we again check if they are perpendicular: \[ \frac{1}{4} \times (-4) = -1 \] Since the product of the slopes is \(-1\), the lines are perpendicular.


Summary:

  1. First pair: Parallel
  2. Second pair: Intersecting
  3. Third pair: Perpendicular