Identifying Perpendicular Segments: Which Line is 90 Degrees to AB?

Q: How can I tell if lines are perpendicular just by looking?

Look for right angle markers (small squares) at the intersection point, or check if one line is vertical and the other is horizontal. In this diagram, GH runs vertically while AB runs horizontally.

Q: What's the difference between intersecting and perpendicular lines?

All perpendicular lines intersect, but not all intersecting lines are perpendicular! Lines are only perpendicular when they meet at exactly $ 90° $.

Q: Why isn't EF perpendicular to AB?

EF crosses AB at a diagonal angle, not 90 degrees. Even though they intersect, the angle between them is acute (less than 90°), so they're not perpendicular.

Q: Can two segments be perpendicular if they don't touch?

No! For segments to be perpendicular, they must intersect and form a 90° angle at their intersection point. If they don't touch, we can't measure the angle between them.

Q: How do I remember which symbol means perpendicular?

The perpendicular symbol is $ ⊥ $, which looks like an upside-down T. Think of it as showing one line standing straight up on another horizontal line at 90°!

Perpendicular Lines with Visual Recognition

Which segment is perpendicular to the segment AB?

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Step-by-step video solution

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00:00 Which segment is perpendicular to AB?

00:03 A perpendicular is a line that forms a right angle at the intersection point with the other line

00:08 And this is the solution to the question

Step-by-step written solution

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Understand the problem

Which segment is perpendicular to the segment AB?

Step-by-step solution

Let's remember that a perpendicular is a line that forms a right angle of 90 degrees with another line.

We'll look at segment AB and examine the lines forming the angle:

AB is perpendicular to GH

Final Answer

$AB⟂GH$

Key Points to Remember

Essential concepts to master this topic

Definition: Perpendicular lines form 90-degree right angles at intersection
Technique: Look for vertical line GH crossing horizontal line AB
Check: Right angle symbol confirms perpendicular intersection at 90° ✓

Common Mistakes

Avoid these frequent errors

Confusing intersecting with perpendicular lines
Don't assume any two lines that cross are perpendicular = wrong answer! Lines can intersect at any angle from 0° to 180°. Always look for the 90-degree right angle marker or visual cues showing vertical meets horizontal.

Practice Quiz

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What do the four figures below have in common?

FAQ

Everything you need to know about this question

How can I tell if lines are perpendicular just by looking?

Look for right angle markers (small squares) at the intersection point, or check if one line is vertical and the other is horizontal. In this diagram, GH runs vertically while AB runs horizontally.

What's the difference between intersecting and perpendicular lines?

All perpendicular lines intersect, but not all intersecting lines are perpendicular! Lines are only perpendicular when they meet at exactly $90°$ .

Why isn't EF perpendicular to AB?

EF crosses AB at a diagonal angle, not 90 degrees. Even though they intersect, the angle between them is acute (less than 90°), so they're not perpendicular.

Can two segments be perpendicular if they don't touch?

No! For segments to be perpendicular, they must intersect and form a 90° angle at their intersection point. If they don't touch, we can't measure the angle between them.

How do I remember which symbol means perpendicular?

The perpendicular symbol is $⊥$ , which looks like an upside-down T. Think of it as showing one line standing straight up on another horizontal line at 90°!

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