Transversal (geometry)

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In geometry, a transversal is a line that passes through two lines in the same plane at two
distinct points. Transversals play a role in establishing whether two other lines in theEuclidean
plane are parallel. The intersections of a transversal with two lines create various types of pairs of
angles: consecutive interior angles, corresponding angles, andalternate angles. By
Euclid's parallel postulate, if the two lines are parallel, consecutive interior angles
are supplementary, corresponding angles are equal, and alternate angles are equal.

Eight angles of a transversal.

(Vertical angles such as and
are always congruent.)

Transversal between non-parallel

lines.
Consecutive angles are not
supplementary.

Transversal between parallel

lines.
Consecutive angles are
supplementary.

Contents
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1 Angles of a transversal
o 1.1 Corresponding angles
o 1.2 Alternate angles
o 1.3 Consecutive angles
2 Other characteristics of transversals
3 Related theorems
4 References

Angles of a transversal[edit]
A transversal produces 8 angles, as shown in the graph at the above left:

4 with each of the two lines, namely , , and and then 1, 1, 1 and 1; and
4 of which are interior (between the two lines), namely , , 1 and 1 and 4 of which
are exterior, namely 1, 1, and .

A transversal that cuts two parallel lines at right angles is called a perpendicular transversal. In
this case, all 8 angles are right angles [1]
When the lines are parallel, a case that is often considered, a transversal produces
several congruent and several supplementary angles. Some of these angle pairs have specific
names and are discussed below:[2][3]corresponding angles, alternate angles, and consecutive
angles.

One pair of corresponding angles. With parallel lines, they are congruent.

One pair of alternate angles. With parallel lines, they are congruent.

Corresponding angles[edit]
For an alternate use, see Corresponding angles (congruence and similarity).
Corresponding angles are the four pairs of angles that:

have distinct vertex points,

lie on the same side of the transversal and
one angle is interior and the other is exterior.
Two lines are parallel if and only if the two angles of any pair of corresponding angles of
any transversal are congruent (equal in measure).

Note: This follows directly from Euclid's parallel postulate. Further, if the angles of one pair
are congruent, then the angles of each of the other pairs are also congruent. In our images
with parallel lines, corresponding angle pairs are: =1, =1, =1 and =1.

Alternate angles[edit]
Alternate angles are the four pairs of angles that:

have distinct vertex points,

lie on opposite sides of the transversal and
both angles are interior or both angles are exterior.
Two lines are parallel if and only if the two angles of any pair of alternate angles of any
transversal are congruent (equal in measure).

Note: This follows directly from Euclid's parallel postulate. Further, if the angles of one pair
are congruent, then the angles of each of the other pairs are also congruent. In our images

with parallel lines, alternate angle pairs with both angles interior are: =1, =1 and with
both angles exterior are: =1 and =1.

Consecutive angles[edit]
Consecutive interior angles are the two pairs of angles that:[4][2]

have distinct vertex points,

lie on the same side of the transversal and
are both interior.
Two lines are parallel if and only if the two angles of any pair of consecutive interior angles
of any transversal are supplementary (sum to 180).

By the definition of a straight line and the properties of vertical angles, if one pair is
supplementary, the other pair is also supplementary.

Other characteristics of transversals[edit]

If three lines in general position form a triangle are then cut by a transversal, the lengths of
the six resulting segments satisfy Menelaus' theorem.

Related theorems[edit]
Euclid's formulation of the parallel postulate may be stated in terms of a transversal.
Specifically, if the interior angles on the same side of the transversal are less than two right
angles then lines must intersect. In fact, Euclid uses the same phrase in Greek that is usually
translated as "transversal".[5]
Euclid's Proposition 27 states that if a transversal intersects two lines so that alternate interior
angles are congruent, then the lines are parallel. Euclid proves this by contradiction: If the
lines are not parallel then they must intersect and a triangle is formed. Then one of the
alternate angles is an exterior angle equal to the other angle which is an opposite interior
angle in the triangle. This contradicts Proposition 16 which states that an exterior angle on a
triangle is always greater than the opposite interior angles.[6][7]
Euclid's Proposition 28 extends this result in two ways. First, if a transversal intersects two
lines so that corresponding angles are congruent, then the lines are parallel. Second, if a
transversal intersects two lines so that interior angles on the same side of the transversal are
supplementary, then the lines are parallel. These follow from the previous proposition by
applying the fact than opposite angles on intersecting lines equal (Prop. 15) and that adjacent
angles on a line are supplementary (Prop. 13). As noted by Proclus, Euclid gives only three
of a possible six such criteria for parallel lines.[8][9]
Euclid's Proposition 29 is a converse to the previous two. First, if a transversal intersects two
parallel lines, then the alternate interior angles are congruent. If not then one is greater than
the other, which implies its supplement is less than the supplement of the other angle. This
implies that there are interior angles on the same side of the transversal which are less than
two right angles, contradicting the fifth postulate. The proposition continues by stating that in
a transversal of two parallel lines, corresponding angles are congruent and interior angles on
the same side equal two right angles. These statements follow in the same way that Prop. 28
follows from Prop. 27.[10][11]
Euclid's proof makes essential use of fifth postulate, however modern treatments of geometry
use Playfair's axiom instead. To prove proposition 29 assuming Playfair's axiom, let a
transversal cross two parallel lines and suppose alternate interior angles are not equal. Draw
a third line through the point where the transversal crosses the first line, but with angle equal
to the angle the transversal makes with the second angle. This produces two different lines
through a point both parallel to another line, contradicting the axiom.[12][13]