Parallel lines cut by a transversal equations

Parallel Lines

Lines are parallel if they are always the same distance apart (called "equidistant"), and will never meet. Just remember:

Always the same distance apart and never touching.

The red line is parallel to the blue line in each of these examples:

Example 1		Example 2

Parallel lines also point in the same direction.

Parallel lines have so much in common. It's a shame they will never meet!

Try it yourself:

Pairs of Angles

When parallel lines get crossed by another line (which is called a Transversal), you can see that many angles are the same, as in this example:

These angles can be made into pairs of angles which have special names.

Click on each name to see it highlighted:

Now play with it here. Try dragging the points, and choosing different angle types. You can also turn "Parallel" off or on:

Testing for Parallel Lines

Some of those special pairs of angles can be used to test if lines really are parallel:

Examples

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In geometry, a  transversal  is a line that intersects two or more other (often  parallel ) lines.

In the figure below, line  n  is a transversal cutting lines  l  and  m .

When two or more lines are cut by a transversal, the angles which occupy the same relative position are called corresponding angles .

In the figure the pairs of corresponding angles are:

∠ 1  and  ∠ 5 ∠ 2  and  ∠ 6 ∠ 3  and  ∠ 7 ∠ 4  and  ∠ 8

When the lines are parallel, the corresponding angles are congruent .

When two lines are cut by a transversal, the pairs of angles on one side of the transversal and inside the two lines are called the consecutive interior angles .

In the above figure, the consecutive interior angles are:

∠ 3  and  ∠ 6 ∠ 4  and  ∠ 5

If two parallel lines are cut by a transversal, then the pairs of consecutive interior angles formed are supplementary .

When two lines are cut by a transversal, the pairs of angles on either side of the transversal and inside the two lines are called the alternate interior angles .

In the above figure, the alternate interior angles are:

∠ 3  and  ∠ 5 ∠ 4  and  ∠ 6

If two parallel lines are cut by a transversal, then the alternate interior angles formed are congruent .

When two lines are cut by a transversal, the pairs of angles on either side of the transversal and outside the two lines are called the alternate exterior angles .

In the above figure, the alternate exterior angles are:

∠ 2  and  ∠ 8 ∠ 1  and  ∠ 7

If two parallel lines are cut by a transversal, then the alternate exterior angles formed are congruent .

Example 1:

In the above diagram, the lines j and k are cut by the transversal l . The angles ∠ c and ∠ e are…

A. Corresponding Angles

B. Consecutive Interior Angles

C. Alternate Interior Angles

D. Alternate Exterior Angles

The angles ∠ c and ∠ e lie on either side of the transversal l and inside the two lines j and k .

Therefore, they are alternate interior angles.

The correct choice is C .

Example 2:

In the above figure if lines A B ↔  and C D ↔ are parallel and m ∠ A X F = 140 °  then what is the measure of ∠ C Y E ?

The angles ∠ A X F  and ∠ C Y E  lie on one side of the transversal E F ↔ and inside the two lines A B ↔ and C D ↔ . So, they are consecutive interior angles.

Since the lines A B ↔ and C D ↔  are parallel, by the consecutive interior angles theorem ,  ∠ A X F  and ∠ C Y E  are supplementary.

That is, m ∠ A X F + m ∠ C Y E = 180 ° .

But, m ∠ A X F = 140 ° .

Substitute and solve.

140 ° + m ∠ C Y E = 180 ° 140 ° + m ∠ C Y E − 140 ° = 180 ° − 140 ° m ∠ C Y E = 40 °

What are the 5 angles formed by parallel lines cut by a transversal?

What is 2 lines cut by a transversal?