Skip to main content
K12 LibreTexts

3.2: Parallel and Skew Lines

  • Page ID
    2189
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    ( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)

    Lines that never intersect.

    Parallel lines are two or more lines that lie in the same plane and never intersect. To show that lines are parallel, arrows are used.

    f-d_ac7ad3bbd060bc5a1566720f7168d6d34e96f798da02e30b68adf654+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)
    Label It Say It
    \(\overleftrightarrow{AB} \parallel \overleftrightarrow{MN}\) Line \(AB\) is parallel to line \(MN\)
    \(l\parallel m\) Line \(l\) is parallel to line \(m\).

    In the definition of parallel the word “line” is used. However, line segments, rays and planes can also be parallel. The image below shows two parallel planes, with a third blue plane that is perpendicular to both of them.

    f-d_5854c70c8c90f356282e7a92d61625096e87ff939ae22f3638b65479+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Skew lines are lines that are in different planes and never intersect. They are different from parallel lines because parallel lines lie in the SAME plane. In the cube below, \(\overline{AB}\) and \(\overline{FH}\) are skew and \(\overline{AC}\) and \(\overline{EF}\) are skew.

    f-d_b159c6d3259b889853c4988a2e4ac5684a67659ded45bae0291f407c+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    Basic Facts About Parallel Lines

    Property: If lines \(l\parallel m\) and \(m\parallel n\), then \(l\parallel n\).

    If

    f-d_597cd854a3f47509da6a94587202e51f73ba3423305e087b258521b6+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    then

    f-d_11753ad9951b0bded902ac29ea6b624969c5ac7f5cb503e1a6fd5480+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    Postulate: For any line and a point not on the line, there is one line parallel to this line through the point. There are infinitely many lines that go through \(A\), but only one that is parallel to \(l\).

    f-d_5babf12ce25eb806affad8c35bae55213204e48080a66eb74549bb32+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\)

    A transversal is a line that intersects two other lines. The area between \(l\) and \(m\) is the interior. The area outside \(l\) and \(m\) is the exterior.

    f-d_d358e6d2a627c53136ef5797db22ca4381a770965ea986ef75621780+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\)

    What if you were given a pair of lines that never intersect and were asked to describe them? What terminology would you use?

    Use the figure below for Examples \(\PageIndex{1}\) and \(\PageIndex{2}\). The two pentagons are parallel and all of the rectangular sides are perpendicular to both of them.

    f-d_dc6bed64085f2a2d510741341c01148f593a03c99081005265f67cee+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{8}\)

    Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Find two pairs of skew lines.

    Solution

    \(\overline{ZV}\) and \(\overline{WB}\). \(\overline{YD}\) and \(\overline{VW}\)

    Example \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    For \(\overline{XY}\), how many parallel lines would pass through point \(D\)? Name this/these line(s).

    Solution

    One line, \(\overline{CD}\)

    Example \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    True or false: some pairs of skew lines are also parallel.

    Solution

    This is false, by definition skew lines are in different planes and parallel lines are in the same plane. Two lines could be skew or parallel (or neither), but never both.

    Example \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    Using the cube below, list a pair of parallel lines.

    f-d_b159c6d3259b889853c4988a2e4ac5684a67659ded45bae0291f407c+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{9}\)

    Solution

    One possible answer is lines \(\overline{AB}\) and \(\overline{EF}\).

    Example \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    Using the cube below, list a pair of skew lines.

    f-d_b159c6d3259b889853c4988a2e4ac5684a67659ded45bae0291f407c+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{10}\)

    Solution

    One possible answer is \(\overline{BD}\) and \(\overline{CG}\).

    Review

    1. Which of the following is the best example of parallel lines?
      1. Railroad Tracks
      2. Lamp Post and a Sidewalk
      3. Longitude on a Globe
      4. Stonehenge (the stone structure in Scotland)
    2. Which of the following is the best example of skew lines?
      1. Roof of a Home
      2. Northbound Freeway and an Eastbound Overpass
      3. Longitude on a Globe
      4. The Golden Gate Bridge

    Use the picture below for questions 3-5.

    \f-d_f8e0d0c765e41bd04ca58a5e73cd09555a02a929d06f952cf3e5ddd7+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{11}\)
    1. If \(m\angle 2=55^{\circ}\), what other angles do you know?
    2. If \(m\angle 5=123^{\circ}\), what other angles do you know?
    3. Is \(l\parallel m\)? Why or why not?

    For 6-10, determine whether the statement is true or false.

    1. If \(p\parallel q \)and \(q\parallel r\), then \(p\parallel r\).
    2. Skew lines are never in the same plane.
    3. Skew lines can be perpendicular.
    4. Planes can be parallel.
    5. Parallel lines are never in the same plane.

    Review (Answers)

    To see the Review answers, open this PDF file and look for section 3.1.

    Resources

    Vocabulary

    Term Definition
    parallel lines Two or more lines that lie in the same plane and never intersect. Parallel lines will always have the same slope.
    Skew lines Skew lines are lines that are in different planes and never intersect.
    transversal A transversal is a line that intersects two other lines.
    Parallel Two or more lines are parallel when they lie in the same plane and never intersect. These lines will always have the same slope.
    Skew To skew a given set means to cause the trend of data to favor one end or the other

    Additional Resources

    Interactive Element

    Video: Proving Lines Parallel

    Practice: Parallel and Skew Lines Discussion Questions

    Study Aids: Lines and Angles Study Guide

    Pratice: Parallel and Skew Lines

    Real World: Short Circuits: How Parallel Circuits Work


    This page titled 3.2: Parallel and Skew Lines is shared under a CK-12 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by CK-12 Foundation via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

    CK-12 Foundation
    LICENSED UNDER
    CK-12 Foundation is licensed under CK-12 Curriculum Materials License
    • Was this article helpful?