In this activity, we will be learning about parallel and perpendicular lines.
Straight lines are parallel if they run the same distance apart, never meeting.
We often count parallel lines in pairs.
Straight lines are perpendicular if they meet or cross over at a right angle (90°)
Let's try two questions together about parallel and perpendicular lines.
Example 1
Look at this shape.
How many pairs of parallel lines are there?
Answer
A square has two pairs of parallel lines.
One pair runs vertically.
The other pair runs horizontally.
Example 2
Look at the square above.
How many lines are perpendicular?
Answer
Perpendicular lines meet at right angles.
In a square, all the corners are right angles, so there are four points where lines meet in a perpendicular manner.
Let's have a go at spotting parallel and perpendicular lines in the questions now.