SSAT Upper Level Math : How to find out if lines are parallel

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Upper Level Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Parallel Lines

Which of the following lines is parallel to ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Lines that are parallel must have the same slope. Thus, the correct answer must also have a slope of .

Example Question #2 : How To Find Out If Lines Are Parallel

Which of the following lines is parallel to the line ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, put the equation in the more familiar  format to see what the slope of the given line is.

 

Lines that are parallel must have the same slope. Thus, the correct answer must also have a slope of .

Example Question #3 : How To Find Out If Lines Are Parallel

Which of the following lines is parallel with the line ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, put the given equation in the more familiar  format to find out the slope of the given line.

 Lines that are parallel must share the same slope. Thus, the line that is parallel has a slope of .

Example Question #2 : Parallel Lines

Which of the following lines is parallel to the line ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Lines that are parallel have the same slope, so the correct answer must also have the slope of .

Example Question #3 : Parallel Lines

Which of the following lines is parallel to the line ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For two lines to be parallel, their slopes must be the same. Thus, the line that is parallel to the given one must also have a slope of .

Example Question #6 : How To Find Out If Lines Are Parallel

Which of the following lines is parallel to the line given by the equation ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

These two lines must share the same slope of  to be parallel. You can identify the slope of a line in  form easily, as the slope is the value of . The only answer choice that has a slope of  is , so it is the correct answer.

Example Question #11 : How To Find Out If Lines Are Parallel

Which of the following lines is parallel to:

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First write the equation in slope intercept form. Add  to both sides to get . Now divide both sides by  to get . The slope of this line is , so any line that also has a slope of  would be parallel to it. The correct answer is  .

Example Question #1 : How To Find Out If Lines Are Parallel

Which pair of linear equations represent parallel lines?

Possible Answers:

y=-x+4

y=x+6

y=2x-4

y=2x+5

y=x+2

y=-x+2

y=2x+4

y=x+4

y=x-5

y=3x+5

Correct answer:

y=2x-4

y=2x+5

Explanation:

Parallel lines will always have equal slopes. The slope can be found quickly by observing the equation in slope-intercept form and seeing which number falls in the "m" spot in the linear equation (y=mx+b)

We are looking for an answer choice in which both equations have the same m value. Both lines in the correct answer have a slope of 2, therefore they are parallel.

Example Question #30 : Coordinate Geometry

Which of the following equations represents a line that is parallel to the line represented by the equation ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Lines are parallel when their slopes are the same.

First, we need to place the given equation in the slope-intercept form.

Because the given line has the slope of , the line parallel to it must also have the same slope.

Example Question #7 : How To Find Out If Lines Are Parallel

Which of the following lines is parallel with the line  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Parallel lines have the same slope. The slope of a line in slope-intercept form  is the value of . So, the slope of the line  is . That means that for the two lines to be parallel, the slope of the second line must also be .

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