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 90º angle

and its hypotenuse forms a 45º angle with each of the other two sides.

45º Triangular set square

It is a scalene triangle. Its shortest side is half of its hypotenuse. The two sides make a 90º angle, and the hypotenuse makes a 60º

angle with one of the sides and a 30º angle with the

other.

60º Triangular set square

DRAWING PARALLEL AND

PERPENDICULAR LINES

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

The 60º triangular set square should be handled with care, press on it lightly when drawing so it doesn’t move.

Then, you should move the 45º triangular set square and make the parallel lines.

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

Draw the perpendicular lines by moving the 45º 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 45º (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.