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4.38: Distance Between Parallel Lines

  • Page ID
    4973
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    Length of a perpendicular segment between parallel lines.

    All vertical lines are in the form \(x=a\), where \(a\) is the \(x\)-intercept. To find the distance between two vertical lines, count the squares between the two lines. You can use this method for horizontal lines as well. All horizontal lines are in the form \(y=b\), where \(b\) is the \(y\)-intercept.

    In general, the shortest distance between two parallel lines is the length of a perpendicular segment between them. There are infinitely many perpendicular segments between two parallel lines, but they will all be the same length.

    f-d_a5654a10f6ef82f03b3a166e4c290d7fa1582402ea756fec0200c16f+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Remember that distances are always positive!

    Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

    Find the distance between \(x=3\) and \(x=-5\).

    f-d_73a5eedfb5a83e601a9684a35c3e4d9135d085876a977eb14bf1b0ea+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Solution

    The two lines are \(3 – (-5)\) units apart, or 8 units apart.

    Example \(\PageIndex{2}\)

    Find the distance between \(x=-5\) and \(x=-10\).

    Solution

    The two lines are \(-5 – (-10)\) units apart, or 5 units apart.

    Example \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    Find the distance between \(y=5\) and \(y=-8\).

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    Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\)

    Solution

    The two lines are \(5 – (-8)\) units apart, or 13 units apart.

    Example \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    Find the distance between \(y=x+6\) and \(y=x−2\).

    f-d_dda43ce8031bd9d34ec5c4fe9a68b6b40c180cf987fdf4a0477a0d3a+IMAGE_TINY+IMAGE_TINY.png
    Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\)

    Solution

    Step 1: Find the perpendicular slope.

    \(m=1\), so \(m_{\perp} =-1\).

    Step 2: Find the y-intercept of the top line, \(y=x+6\).

    The intercept is \((0, 6)\).

    Step 3: Use the slope and count down 1 and to the right 1 until you hit \(y=x−2\).

    Always rise/run the same amount for \(m=1\) or \(m=-1\).

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    Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    Step 4: Use these two points in the distance formula to determine how far apart the lines are.

    \(\begin{align*} d&=\sqrt{(0−4)^2+(6−2)^2} \\ &=\sqrt{(−4)^2+(4)^2} \\ &=\sqrt{16+16} \\ &=\sqrt{32}=5.66\: units\end{align*}\)

    Example \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    Find the distance between \(y=-x−1\), and \(y=-x−3\).

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    Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\)

    Solution

    Step 1: Find the perpendicular slope.

    \(m=-1\), so \(m_{\perp} =1\).

    Step 2: Find the y-intercept of the top line, \(y=-x−1\).

    The intercept is \((0, -1)\).

    Step 3: Use the slope and count down 1 and to the left 1 until you hit \(y=x−3\).

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    Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\)

    Step 4: Use these two points in the distance formula to determine how far apart the lines are.

    \(\begin{align*} d&=\sqrt{(0−(-1))^2+(-1−(-2))^2} \\ &=\sqrt{(1)^2+(1)^2} \\ &=\sqrt{1+1} \\ &=\sqrt{2}=1.41\: units \end{align*}\)

    Review

    Use each graph below to determine how far apart each pair of parallel lines is.

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      Figure \(\PageIndex{8}\)
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      Figure \(\PageIndex{9}\)
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      Figure \(\PageIndex{10}\)
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      Figure \(\PageIndex{11}\)

    Determine the shortest distance between the each pair of parallel lines. Round your answer to the nearest hundredth.

    1. \(x=5\),\(x=1\)
    2. \(y=−6\),\(y=4\)
    3. \(y=3\),\(y=15\)
    4. \(x=−10\),\(x=−1\)
    5. \(x=8\),\(x=0\)
    6. \(y=7\),\(y=−12\)

    Find the distance between the given parallel lines.

    1. \(y=x−3\),\(y=x+11\)
    2. \(y=−x+4\), \(y=−x\)
    3. \(y=−x−5\), \(y=−x+1\)
    4. \(y=x+12\), \(y=x−6\)

    Review (Answers)

    To see the Review answers, open this PDF file and look for section 3.11.

    Resources

    Vocabulary

    Term Definition
    Distance Formula The distance between two points \((x_1,y_1)\) and \((x_2,y_2)\) can be defined as \(d=\sqrt{(x_2−x_1)^2+(y_2−y_1)^2}\).
    Perpendicular Perpendicular lines are lines that intersect at a \(90^{\circ}\) angle. The product of the slopes of two perpendicular lines is -1.

    Additional Resources

    Interactive Element

    Video: Finding The Distance Between Parallel Lines Principles - Basic

    Activities: Distance Between Parallel Lines Discussion Questions

    Study Aids: Lines in the Coordinate Plane

    Practice: Distance Between Parallel Lines

    Real World: Flipping Out


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