PERPENDICULAR AND PARALLEL LINES

PARALLEL LINES Parallel lines are lines that do not intersect. No matter how far you extend them, they will never meet. Lines are parallel if they are the same distance apart.

PERPENDICULAR LINES A line is perpendicular to another if it meets or crosses it at right angles (90°).

HOW TO DRAW PERPENDICULAR AND PARALLEL LINES

YOU NEED THESE TECHNICAL DRAWING TOOLS: Triangular set square

There are two types of set squares and they are named according to their angles.

It’s an isosceles triangle. Two sides make a 90 º angle and its hypotenuse forms a 45 º angle with each of the other two sides. 45 º Triangular set square

It is a scalene triangle. Its shortest side is half of its hypotenuse. The two sides make a 90 º angle, and the hypotenuse makes a 60 º angle with one of the sides and a 30 º angle with the other. 60 º Triangular set square

DRAWING PARALLEL AND PERPENDICULAR LINES

Draw a straight line. Put the 45 º triangular set square on the line.

The 60 º triangular set square should be handled with care, press on it lightly when drawing so it doesn’t move. Then, you should move the 45 º triangular set square and make the parallel lines.

Turn the 45 º triangular set square. Don´t move the 60 º triangular set square.

Draw the perpendicular lines by moving the 45 º triangular set square. As you can see, the vertical lines are perpendicular to the horizontal ones.

ACTIVITY

Materials needed

A pencil. Triangular set square Coloured pencils

First step: Draw a horizontal line on your worksheet. Then, draw parallel and perpendicular lines with your triangular set squares to make an original composition.

Draw an oblique line at 45 º (look at the example). Then, draw parallel and perpendicular lines with your triangular set squares. Second step:

Using the lines, draw and color different geometric shapes to make an original composition. Third step:

Carpenter Center for Visual Arts, Cambridge, U.S.A.