Question

Points W and X are on Wx. Y and Z are on YZ. Are WX and YZ parallel, perpendicular, Or neither?3.) W(2, 1) X(6, 2) Y(2, "-2)" Z(6, "-2)"

Answer 1

ANSWER

Neither parallel nor perpendicular

EXPLANATION

To find if the lines are parallel or perpendicular, we have to find the slopes.

The slope of a line passing through points (x₁, y₁) and (x₂, y₂) is,

$m=\frac{y_1-y_2}{x_1-x_2}$

The slope of line WX, passing through points W(2, 1) and X(6, 2) is,

$m_{WX}=\frac{1-2}{2-6}=\frac{-1}{-4}=\frac{1}{4}$

The slope of line YZ, passing through points Y(2, -2) and Z(6, -2) is,

$m_{YZ}=\frac{-2-(-2)}{2-6}=\frac{-2+2}{-4}=0$

Two lines are parallel if they have the same slope, and perpendicular if they have opposite reciprocal slopes.

In this case, the slopes are 1/4 and 0, which are neither the same nor opposite reciprocals.

Hence, lines WX and YZ are neither parallel nor perpendicular.