Types of Lines: Parallel, Perpendicular, and Intersecting
Identify and describe lines by how they meet
Types of Lines: Parallel, Perpendicular, and Intersecting
Identify and describe lines by how they meet
Math - Grade 2-3
- 1
Two train tracks run side by side and stay the same distance apart. What type of lines are they?
Parallel lines go in the same direction and never cross.
The train tracks are parallel lines because they stay the same distance apart and do not meet. - 2
A vertical line crosses a horizontal line and makes a square corner. What type of lines are these?
These are perpendicular lines because they cross and make a square corner. - 3
Two roads cross each other, but they do not make a square corner. What type of lines are they?
Intersecting lines cross at one point.
The roads are intersecting lines because they cross each other but do not make a square corner. - 4
Look at the letter X. What type of lines do the two slanted parts show?
The two slanted parts of the letter X show intersecting lines because they cross each other. - 5
Look at the two sides of a ladder. The sides go in the same direction and do not touch. What type of lines are the sides?
Think about lines that always stay the same distance apart.
The sides of the ladder are parallel lines because they go in the same direction and do not touch. - 6
A street sign pole stands straight up from the sidewalk. The pole and the sidewalk make a square corner. What type of lines do they show?
The pole and sidewalk show perpendicular lines because they meet and make a square corner. - 7
Write parallel, perpendicular, or intersecting: Two pencils cross like a plus sign.
A plus sign has square corners where the lines meet.
The pencils are perpendicular because they cross like a plus sign and make square corners. - 8
Write parallel, perpendicular, or intersecting: Two crayons are lying on a desk side by side and never cross.
The crayons are parallel because they are side by side and do not cross. - 9
Write parallel, perpendicular, or intersecting: Two sticks cross like the letter V.
Lines can intersect without being perpendicular.
The sticks are intersecting because they meet at one point but do not make a square corner. - 10
Draw two parallel lines. Then write one sentence to explain how you know they are parallel.
The drawing should show two lines that go in the same direction and never meet. They are parallel because they stay the same distance apart. - 11
Draw two perpendicular lines. Then write one sentence to explain how you know they are perpendicular.
A square corner is like the corner of a piece of paper.
The drawing should show two lines that cross and make a square corner. They are perpendicular because they meet at a right angle. - 12
Draw two intersecting lines that are not perpendicular. Then write one sentence to explain your drawing.
The drawing should show two lines that cross but do not make square corners. They are intersecting because they meet at one point. - 13
A rectangle has opposite sides that never meet. What type of lines are opposite sides of a rectangle?
Look at the top and bottom sides, or the left and right sides.
Opposite sides of a rectangle are parallel lines because they stay the same distance apart and do not meet. - 14
In a rectangle, the top side meets the right side at a square corner. What type of lines are these two sides?
The top side and the right side are perpendicular lines because they meet at a square corner. - 15
Sort these line pairs into groups: railroad tracks, a plus sign, and the letter X. Write the correct type for each one.
Use each word once: parallel, perpendicular, and intersecting.
Railroad tracks are parallel lines. A plus sign shows perpendicular lines. The letter X shows intersecting lines.