what does perpendicular mean

4 hours ago 1
Nature

Perpendicular means that two lines, planes, or surfaces meet or intersect at a right angle, which is exactly 90 degrees. When two lines are perpendicular, they form four right angles at the point of intersection, each measuring 90°

. In geometry, perpendicularity is symbolized by the perpendicular sign (⊥). For example, if line AB is perpendicular to line CD, it is written as AB‾⊥CD‾\overline{AB}\perp \overline{CD}AB⊥CD

. The concept applies not only to lines but also to a line and a plane, or between two planes

. Perpendicular can also describe something standing upright or vertical, such as a line or object that is straight up at a 90° angle to a horizontal surface

. In summary:

  • Perpendicular means intersecting at a 90° angle (right angle).
  • It applies to lines, planes, and surfaces.
  • The intersection forms right angles, often marked by a small square in diagrams.
  • The symbol for perpendicular is ⊥.

This concept is fundamental in geometry and is used to describe shapes, angles, and orientations in space