# Explain the mistakeWhat is wrong when saying that the line y=5 is parallel to y axis .

hala718 | High School Teacher | (Level 1) Educator Emeritus

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The line y= 5 is perpendicularto the y-axis and not parallel.

When saying that the equation of the line is y= 5, then all y values will be 5 for any x value.

For example, some points on the line are : ( 0, 5) ( 1,5) , (-5,5) . (-4, 5).

When we draw these points we find that they form a horizontal line that is parallel to the x-axis and 5 units above the x-axis.

Then we can not say that the line given by y = k is parallel to the x-axis.

y= k ( k is constant) ==> y is parallel to the x-axis.

x = k ( K is a constant) ==> x is parallel to the y-axis.

pohnpei397 | College Teacher | (Level 3) Distinguished Educator

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The mistake here is that the line y = 5 is not vertical.  The y axis is vertical, but this line would be horizontal.  Therefore, they would be perpendicular.

If the line is y = 5, then y = 5 for every value of x.  That means that you have a horizontal line that passes through points such as (0,5) and (2,5).  That line is not parallel to the y axis, it is perpendicular, passing through the y axis at (0,5).

giorgiana1976 | College Teacher | (Level 3) Valedictorian

Posted on

When you write y = 5 means that the line is intercepting y axis in the point (0,5).

Also, x = 3 represents a line that is intercepting x axis in the point (3;0).

So, when a coordinate has a value, the value is representing the intercepting point of the line and x or y axis.

You can calculate the intercepting point of a line and x axis, putting y = 0 in the equation of the line.
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