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By Mark Ryan
Parallel lines are important when you study quadrilaterals because six of the seven types of
quadrilaterals (all of them except the kite) contain parallel lines. The eight angles formed by
Check out the above figure which shows three lines that kind of resemble a giant not-equal sign.
The two horizontal lines are parallel, and the third line that crosses them is called a transversal.
The following theorems tell you how various pairs of angles relate to each other.
Proving that angles are congruent: If a transversal intersects two parallel lines, then the
Alternate interior angles: The pair of angles 3 and 6 (as well as 4 and 5) are alternate
interior angles. These angle pairs are on opposite (alternate) sides of the transversal
and are in between (in the interior of) the parallel lines.
Alternate exterior angles: Angles 1 and 8 (and angles 2 and 7) are called alternate
exterior angles. They’re on opposite sides of the transversal, and they’re outside the
parallel lines.
Corresponding angles: The pair of angles 1 and 5 (also 2 and 6, 3 and 7, and 4 and 8)
are corresponding angles. Angles 1 and 5 are corresponding because each is in the
same position (the upper left-hand corner) in its group of four angles.
Also notice that angles 1 and 4, 2 and 3, 5 and 8, and 6 and 7 are across from each other,
Proving that angles are supplementary: If a transversal intersects two parallel lines, then the
Same-side exterior angles: Angles 1 and 7 (and 2 and 8) are called same-side exterior
angles — they’re on the same side of the transversal, and they’re outside the parallel
lines.
You can sum up the above definitions and theorems with the following simple, concise idea.
When you have two parallel lines cut by a transversal, you get four acute angles and four
obtuse angles (except when you get eight right angles). All the acute angles are congruent, all
the obtuse angles are congruent, and each acute angle is supplementary to each obtuse angle.
In short, any two of the eight angles are either congruent or supplementary.
Proving that lines are parallel: All these theorems work in reverse. You can use the following
theorems to prove that lines are parallel. That is, two lines are parallel if they’re cut by a