GRE Math : How to find out if lines are parallel

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1401 : Gre Quantitative Reasoning

There are two lines:

2x – 4y = 33

2x + 4y = 33

Are these lines perpendicular, parallel, non-perpendicular intersecting, or the same lines?

Possible Answers:

Parallel

None of the other answers

Non-perpendicular intersecting

Perpendicular

The same

Correct answer:

Non-perpendicular intersecting

Explanation:

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.

Example Question #21 : Coordinate Geometry

Which of the above-listed lines are parallel?

Possible Answers:

 and 

 and 

All four lines

None of them

, and 

Correct answer:

, and 

Explanation:

There are several ways to solve this problem.  You could solve all of the equations for .  This would give you equations in the form .  All of the lines with the same  value would be parallel.  Otherwise, you could figure out the ratio of  to  when both values are on the same side of the equation.  This would suffice for determining the relationship between the two.  We will take the first path, though, as this is most likely to be familiar to you.

Let's solve each for :

 

 

 

Here, you need to be a bit more manipulative with your equation.  Multiply the numerator and denominator of the  value by :

 

Therefore, , and  all have slopes of 

Example Question #3 : How To Find Out If Lines Are Parallel

Which of the following is parallel to the line passing through  and ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Now, notice that the slope of the line that you have been given is . You know this because slope is merely:

However, for your points, there is no rise at all. You do not even need to compute the value. You know it will be . All lines with slope  are of the form , where  is the value that  has for all  points. Based on our data, this is , for  is always —no matter what is the value for . So, the parallel answer choice is , as both have slopes of .

Example Question #4 : How To Find Out If Lines Are Parallel

Which of the following is parallel to ?

Possible Answers:

The line between the points  and 

The line between the points  and 

The line between the points  and 

The line between the points  and 

The line between the points  and 

Correct answer:

The line between the points  and 

Explanation:

To begin, solve your equation for . This will put it into slope-intercept form, which will easily make the slope apparent. (Remember, slope-intercept form is , where  is the slope.)

Divide both sides by  and you get:

Therefore, the slope is . Now, you need to test your points to see which set of points has a slope of . Remember, for two points  and , you find the slope by using the equation:

For our question, the pair  and  gives us a slope of :

Example Question #41 : Lines

Which of the following lines is parallel to:

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First write the equation in slope intercept form. Add  to both sides to get . Now divide both sides by  to get . The slope of this line is , so any line that also has a slope of  would be parallel to it. The correct answer is  .

Example Question #29 : Coordinate Geometry

Which pair of linear equations represent parallel lines?

Possible Answers:

y=x+2

y=-x+2

y=2x+4

y=x+4

y=-x+4

y=x+6

y=x-5

y=3x+5

y=2x-4

y=2x+5

Correct answer:

y=2x-4

y=2x+5

Explanation:

Parallel lines will always have equal slopes. The slope can be found quickly by observing the equation in slope-intercept form and seeing which number falls in the "m" spot in the linear equation (y=mx+b)

We are looking for an answer choice in which both equations have the same m value. Both lines in the correct answer have a slope of 2, therefore they are parallel.

Example Question #30 : Coordinate Geometry

Which of the following equations represents a line that is parallel to the line represented by the equation ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Lines are parallel when their slopes are the same.

First, we need to place the given equation in the slope-intercept form.

Because the given line has the slope of , the line parallel to it must also have the same slope.

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