Perpendicular for Dummies

Alright, so "perpendicular" is a word we use to describe when two lines or planes meet each other at a 90-degree angle. Let's visualize it like this - if you have one line going straight up and down, and another line going straight across, they would be perpendicular to each other because they form a perfect right angle where they meet. It's like when you make a big letter "L" with your hands - the vertical line and the horizontal line are perpendicular to each other.

Now, there's also another way we use "perpendicular" when it comes to geometry - we can talk about perpendicular bisectors. This means that if we have a line or a segment, a perpendicular bisector is a line that cuts it in half at a perfect 90-degree angle. It's like when you fold a piece of paper in half and then draw a line that runs right through the middle at a right angle - that line is a perpendicular bisector.

So, "perpendicular" is all about things meeting at right angles, either straight up and down or side to side, and it's also about lines or segments being cut in half by a line that meets them at a 90-degree angle. It's kind of like when you play with building blocks and you make sure all the pieces fit perfectly together to form a right angle. Hope that helps you understand what "perpendicular" means!