All GRE Math Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Parallel Lines
What is the equation for the line running through and parallel to ?
To begin, solve the given equation for . This will give you the slope-intercept form of the line.
Divide everything by :
Therefore, the slope of the line is .
Now, for a point , the point-slope form of a line is:
, where is the slope
For our point, this is:
This is the same as:
Distribute and solve for :
Example Question #13 : Coordinate Geometry
Quantity A: The slope of a line parallel to
Quantity B: The slope of a line perpendicular to
Which of the following is true?
The relationship between the quantities cannot be determined from the information provided.
Quantity B is larger.
Quantity A is larger.
The two quantities are equal.
Quantity B is larger.
For a question like this, it is easiest to start by putting each equation into the slope-intercept form. This is , where is the slope of the line.
Quantity A
Divide both sides by :
So, Quantity A is . Parallel lines have equal slopes.
Quantity B
Divide both sides by :
Now, the perpendicular of a line has a slope that is opposite and reciprocal. Therefore, the slope for Quantity B is . This is a smaller negative number than the value for Quantity A. Therefore, absolutely speaking, it is a larger value. Therefore, Quantity B is larger.
Example Question #14 : Coordinate Geometry
Quantity A: The slope of the line parallel to
Quantity B: The slope of the line parallel to
Which of the following is true?
The two quantities are equal.
Quantity B is larger.
The relationship between the quantities cannot be determined for the information given.
Quantity A is larger.
Quantity A is larger.
To begin, put each equation into slope-intercept form, which is . The value for is the slope of the line. The lines that are parallel to each of our given lines will have equal slopes to their respective lines. (Parallel lines have equal slopes, after all.)
Quantity A
Divide both sides by :
Therefore, the slope of the line parallel to this one is .
Quantity B
Divide both sides by :
Therefore, the slope of the line parallel to this one is . Therefore, Quantity A is larger.
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Slope Of Parallel Lines
What is the slope of a line parallel to the line: -15x + 5y = 30 ?
1/3
30
3
-15
3
First, put the equation in slope-intercept form: y = 3x + 6. From there we can see the slope of this line is 3 and since the slope of any line parallel to another line is the same, the slope will also be 3.
Example Question #11 : Parallel Lines
What is the slope of any line parallel to –6x + 5y = 12?
6
12
12/5
5/6
6/5
6/5
This problem requires an understanding of the makeup of an equation of a line. This problem gives an equation of a line in y = mx + b form, but we will need to algebraically manipulate the equation to determine its slope. Once we have determined the slope of the line given we can determine the slope of any line parallel to it, becasue parallel lines have identical slopes. By dividing both sides of the equation by 5, we are able to obtain an equation for this line that is in a more recognizable y = mx + b form. The equation of the line then becomes y = 6/5x + 12/5, we can see that the slope of this line is 6/5.
Example Question #3 : How To Find The Slope Of Parallel Lines
What is the slope of a line that is parallel to the line 11x + 4y - 2 = 9 – 4x ?
We rearrange the line to express it in slope intercept form.
Any line parallel to this original line will have the same slope.
Example Question #21 : Parallel Lines
In the standard (x, y) coordinate plane, what is the slope of a line parallel to the line with equation ?
Parallel lines will have equal slopes. To solve, we simply need to rearrange the given equation into slope-intercept form to find its slope.
The slope of the given line is . Any lines that run parallel to the given line will also have a slope of .
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Slope Of Parallel Lines
What is the slope of a line that is parallel to the line ?
Parallel lines have the same slope. The question requires you to find the slope of the given function. The best way to do this is to put the equation in slope-intercept form (y = mx + b) by solving for y.
First subtract 6x on both sides to get 3y = –6x + 12.
Then divide each term by 3 to get y = –2x + 4.
In the form y = mx + b, m represents the slope. So the coefficient of the x term is the slope, and –2 is the correct answer.
Example Question #1402 : Gre Quantitative Reasoning
A certain line has points at and . Which of the following lines is parallel to the so-called "certain" line?
To begin, we must first solve the for the slope of the original line. Use the formula for slope to do this:
Use the two points we were given:
Reduce the fraction:
We are looking for any answer choice with a slope of . The answer is .
Example Question #1 : How To Find Out If Lines Are Parallel
There are two lines:
2x – 4y = 33
2x + 4y = 33
Are these lines perpendicular, parallel, non-perpendicular intersecting, or the same lines?
None of the other answers
The same
Perpendicular
Parallel
Non-perpendicular intersecting
Non-perpendicular intersecting
To be totally clear, solve both lines in slope-intercept form:
2x – 4y = 33; –4y = 33 – 2x; y = –33/4 + 0.5x
2x + 4y = 33; 4y = 33 – 2x; y = 33/4 – 0.5x
These lines are definitely not the same. Nor are they parallel—their slopes differ. Likewise, they cannot be perpendicular (which would require not only opposite slope signs but also reciprocal slopes); therefore, they are non-perpendicular intersecting.