Angle Between Two Lines

Angle between the lines y = m1 + c1 and y = m2 + c2 and y = m2x + c2

Angle Between Two Lines

Angle between the lines

Let the equation of two lines AB and CD be y = m1x + c1 and y = m2x + c2 respectively.

let the lines AB and CD make angles θ1 and θ2 respectively with the positive direction of X-axis.

Then, tanθ1 = m1 and tanθ2 = m2.

Let the lines AB and CD intersect each other at the point E.

Let the angles between the lines AB and CD

∠CEA = Φ

Then by plane geometry, θ1 = Φ + θ2

or,Φ =θ1-θ2

tanθ1 −tanθ2 m1 −m2

∴ tanΦ = tan(θ1 -θ2) = = .........(i)
1+tanθ1 tanθ2 1+tanθ1 tanθ2
Again, let ∠BAC = Ψ

Then by place geometry ,Φ + Ψ = 1800

or, Ψ = 1800 - Φ
1m −m2
or, tan Ψ = tan (180 - Φ) = -tan Φ = -1+m ............(ii)
1 m2

Hence if angles between the lines y = m1x + c1 and y = m2x + c2 be the θ then,

1m −m2
tanθ =± 1+m
1 m2

1− 2
 m −m
θ = tan-1(± 1+m
1 2
)
1 m2

Condition of Perpendicularity
o.
Two lines AB and CD will be perpendicular to each other if the angle between them θ = 90
1 m −m
2
We have tanθ = ± 1+m
1 m2
m −m
or, tan900 = ± 1+m
1 2
1 m2
1+m m
or, cot900 = ± m −1m 2
1 2

1+m m
or, 0 = m −1m 2
1 2

or, 1 +m1m2 =0

or, m1m2 = -1

Two lines will be perpendicular to each other if m1m2 = -1

i.e. if product of the slopes = -1 .

Condition of Parallelism
0.
Two lines AB and CD will be parallel to each other if the angle between them θ = 0
1m −m2
we have, tanθ = ± 1+m
1 m2

m1 −m2
or, tan00 = ±
1+m1 m2
m −m
1 2
or, 0 = 1+m
1 m2

or, m1 - m2 = 0

or, m1 = m2

∴ Two lines will be parallel to each other if m1 = m2 i.e. if slopes are equal.

Angle between the lines A1x + B1y + C1 = 0 and A2x + B2y +C2 = 0
Angle between the lines A1x + B1y + C1 = 0 and A2x + B2y +C2 = 0
Let equations of two straight lines AB and CD be A1x + B1y + C 1 = 0 and A2x + B2y + C2 = 0 respectively.

A
Then slope of AB = -B1
1

A
Slope of CD = - 2
B2
Let the lines AB and CD make angles θ1 and θ2 with the positive direction of X-axis.

A1 A
Then, tanθ1 = - and tanθ2 = - 2
B1 B2
Let ∠CEA = Φ.
Then, θ1 = θ1 - θ2

or, Φ = θ1 - θ2

tanθ1 −tanθ2 A B −A1 B2 A B −A2 B1

∴ tan Φ = tan( θ1 - θ2) = = 2 1 =- 1 2 ......(i)
1+tanθ1 tanθ2 A1 A2 +B1 B2 A1 A2 +B1 B2
Let ∠BEC = Ψ

Then Ψ + Φ = 1800

or, Ψ = 1800 - Φ
A1 B2 −A2 B1
∴ tan Ψ = tan(1800 - Φ) = -tanΦ = .........(ii)
A1 A2 +B1 B2
Hence if angles between the lines A1x + B1y + C 1 = 0 and A2x + B2y + C2 = 0 is θ, then

A1 B2 −A2 B1
tanθ = ±
A1 A2 +B1 B2
A1 B2 −A2 B1
or, θ = tan-1 (± )
A1 A2 +B1 B2
Condition of Perpendicularity
Two lines AB and CD will be perpendicular to each other if θ = 900
A1 B2 −A2 B1
Then tan900 = ±
A1 A2 +B1 B2
A1 B2 −A2 B1
or, ∞ =
A1 A2 +B1 B2
∴ A1A2 + B1B2 = 0

Condition of Parallelism

Two lines AB and CD will be parrallel to each other if θ = 00

A1 B2 −A2 B1
Then, tan00 = ±
A1 A2 +B1 B2
A1 B2 −A2 B1
or, 0 =
A1 A2 +B1 B2
or, A1B2 - A2B1 = 0

or, A1B2 = A2B1

A1 B
∴ = 1
A2 B2

Equation of any line parallel to ax + by + c = 0

Equation of the given line is ax + by + c = 0

coefficient of x a
Slope of this line = - =-
coefficient of y b
a
Slope of the line parallel to this line = -
b
a
Now, equation of a line having slope - is given by
b
y = mx + c
a
or, y = - x + c
b
or, by = -ax + bc
or, ax + by - bc = 0
or, ax + by + k = 0 where, k = -bc.
Hence equation of any line parallel to ax + by + c = 0 is given by ax + by + k = 0 where k is an arbitrary constant.

Equation of any line perpendicular to ax +by +c = 0

Equation of the given line is ax + by + c = 0

coefficient of x a
Slope of this line = - =-
coefficient of y b
b
Slope of the line perpendicular to given line =
a
b
Now equation of a line having slope a is given by

y = mx + c
b
or, y = a x + c

or, ay = bx + ac
or, bx - ay + ac = 0
or, bx - ay +k = 0 where k = ac.
Hence, equation of any line perpendicular to ax + by + c = 0 is given by bx - ay + k = 0 where k is an arbitrary constant.