How to Find Equations for Parallel and Perpendicular Lines

The Organic Chemistry Tutor

This instructional video provides a comprehensive tutorial on writing linear equations for lines that are either parallel or perpendicular to a given line. The narrator walks through three distinct examples that increase in complexity, demonstrating how to identify the necessary slope and use the point-slope formula to derive the final equation in slope-intercept form. Key themes include understanding the relationship between slopes of parallel lines (same slope) and perpendicular lines (negative reciprocals), converting linear equations from standard form to slope-intercept form to identify slope, and performing algebraic operations with fractions. The video emphasizes the importance of identifying the two critical components needed to write a line's equation: a point and a slope. For educators, this resource serves as an excellent model for scaffolding algebraic concepts. It moves from direct application to multi-step problem solving involving standard form and fraction arithmetic. It is particularly useful for Algebra 1 and Geometry classrooms to reinforce procedural fluency in manipulating linear equations and to visualize algebraic relationships.