perpendicularity

Also known as perpendicular, perpendicular to

class=skin-invert-image|right|thumb|236px|The segment AB is perpendicular to the segment CD because the two angles it creates (indicated in orange and blue) are each 90 degrees. The segment AB can be called the perpendicular from A to the segment CD, using "perpendicular" as a noun. The point B is called the foot of the perpendicular from A to segment CD, or simply, the foot of A on CD.

AI overview

Perpendicularity describes the relationship between two lines or segments that meet at a 90-degree angle, with each of the angles formed at their intersection being exactly 90 degrees. This concept matters because perpendicular lines are fundamental to measuring distances, constructing right angles, and establishing coordinate systems used across mathematics, engineering, and everyday spatial navigation.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Wikidata facts

Image: Perpendicular-coloured.svg

Show 1 more fact

Commons category: Perpendicular

Sources (4)

via Wikidata · CC0

~11 min read

Article

18 sections

Contents

Foot of a perpendicular{{anchor|Foot}}
Construction of the perpendicular
In relationship to parallel lines
In computing distances{{anchor|Distance}}
Graph of functions
In circles and other conics
Circles
Ellipses
Parabolas
Hyperbolas
In polygons
Triangles
Quadrilaterals
Lines in three dimensions
See also
Notes
References
External links

In geometry, two geometric objects are perpendicular if they intersect at right angles, i.e. at an angle of 90 degrees or π/2 radians. The condition of perpendicularity may be represented graphically using the perpendicular symbol, ⟂. Perpendicular intersections can happen between two lines (or two line segments), between a line and a plane, and between two planes.