ANGLE BETWEEN TWO STRAIGHT LINES

Two straight lines in a plane would either be parallel or coincide or intersect. Normally when two straight lines intersect, they form two angles at the point of intersection. One is an acute angle and another is an obtuse angle or equal. Both these angles would be supplements (Sum equals 180°) of each other. By definition, when we say ‘angle between two straight lines’ we mean the acute angle between the two lines.

Example 1 :

Find the angle between the straight lines :

3x - 2y + 9 = 0

2x + y - 9 = 0

Solution :

Write each equation in slope intercept form.

Formula to find angle between the two straight lines : 

θ = tan^-1|(m₁ - m₂)/(1 + m₁m₂)|

Substitute m₁ = 3/2 and m₂ = -2.

= tan^-1|(3/2 - 2)/(1 + (3/2)(-2))|

= tan^-1|(3/2) + 2))/(1 - 3)|

= tan^-1|(7/2)/(- 2)|

= tan^-1|-7/4|

= tan^-1(7/4)

Example 2 :

Show that the following two straight lines are parallel.

2x + y - 9 = 0

2x + y - 10 = 0

Solution :

Write each equation in slope intercept form.

Formula to find angle between the two straight lines : 

θ = tan^-1|(m₁ - m₂)/(1 + m₁m₂)|

Substitute m₁ = -2 and m₂ = -2.

= tan^-1|(-2 + 2)/(1 + (-2)(-2))|

= tan^-1|0/(1 + 4)|

= tan^-1|0|

= 0°

Since the angle between the given two straight lines is 0°, the lines are parallel.

Example 3 :

Show that the following two straight lines are perpendicular. 

2x + 3y - 9 = 0

3x - 2y + 10 = 0

Solution :

Write each equation in slope intercept form.

Formula to find angle between the two straight lines : 

θ = tan^-1|(m₁ - m₂)/(1 + m₁m₂)|

Substitute m₁ = -2/3 and m₂ = 3/2.

= tan^-1|(-2/3 + 3/2)/(1 + (-2/3)(3/2))|

= tan^-1|(5/9)/(1 - 1)|

= tan^-1|(5/9)/0|

= tan^-1(∞)

= 90°

Since the angle between the given two straight lines is 90°, the lines are parallel.

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