Elementary Geometry for College Students (5th Edition)

Published by Brooks Cole
ISBN 10: 1439047901
ISBN 13: 978-1-43904-790-3

Chapter 10 - Section 10.2 - Graphs of Linear Equations and Slope - Exercises - Page 466: 41

Answer

The slopes of two lines that are parallel to each other is always equal when the lines are not vertical.

Work Step by Step

First, we draw two vertical lines a distance x away from the x-intercept of each line. Since this represents a common transversal, it follows that corresponding angles are congruent. In addition, both vertical lines are drawn the same distance from the x-intercept of each of the two parallel lines, meaning that they have congruent sides. Thus, the two triangles are congruent by ASA. This means that their rise and run are both congruent, meaning that their slopes are also congruent.
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