Invest 30 seconds...
...for what may lead to a life altering association!
Help Line
- +91.8800.2828.00 (IND)
- 1030-1830 Hrs IST, Mon-Sat
- support@expertsglobal.com
Parallel lines never meet and share the same slope. Perpendicular lines meet at right angles; the slope of one line is negative reciprocal of the other. Example: For y=2x+1, a parallel line is y=2x-3, and a perpendicular line is y=-0.5x+4 as their slopes multiply to -1.
A straight line is one of the simplest yet most powerful elements in coordinate geometry. Its properties form the foundation for many advanced problems on the GMAT. Two of the most important relationships are those of parallel lines and perpendicular lines. Parallel lines are those that never intersect, no matter how far they are extended. They share the same slope, and this property makes it easier to identify or construct equations when one line is already known. Perpendicular lines, on the other hand, meet at right angles, and their slopes have a product of –1. These relationships are crucial for solving geometry-based data sufficiency and problem-solving questions on the test. Understanding these fundamentals ensures accuracy when interpreting graphs, solving equations, or working through coordinate geometry word problems. You can further strengthen your preparation by exploring our GMAT preparation course and practicing with our GMAT practice tests.
In coordinate geometry, straight lines carry predictable and essential properties that make them central to problem solving on the GMAT. A key property is that parallel lines have the same slope. For example, consider the line 2x + 3y = 1. The slope here is –2/3, so any line parallel to it will also have a slope of –2/3. This relationship helps in quickly establishing equations for lines that run alongside each other.
Perpendicular lines have slopes whose product is –1. Taking the same example, a line with slope –2/3 will have a perpendicular counterpart with slope 3/2, since (–2/3) × (3/2) = –1. This property allows us to identify right angles in coordinate problems without additional geometric construction.
Finally, remember that if a line passes through a point, the coordinates of that point will satisfy the equation of the line. This is a simple but powerful tool for checking or building equations during test situations.
Know your current GMAT level through a free GMAT full-length mock test
Parallel and perpendicular lines reveal how alignment and contrast shape outcomes. Progress grows when your study habits run parallel to your goals, steady and consistent, day after day. When confusion appears, meet it at a right angle: pause, reset, and change approach. In GMAT preparation, align content review, timed practice, and reflection so their slopes match; let analytics guide corrections. In the business school applications process, keep values, essays, and recommendations parallel, while cutting across distractions perpendicularly. In life, choose what to run alongside and what to confront directly. Direction matters as much as speed. Clarity of slope creates distance covered.
