Function: math[areparallel] - checks if two lines are parallel

Calling Sequence:

areparallel(l1, l2);

Parameters:

l1, l2 - two line objects

Description:

The function checks whether two lines defined by geometry/line or math/line are parallel. It returns true if l1 || l2, and false otherwise.

math/areparellel provides an interface to geometry/AreParallel . If the latter function returns FAIL, i.e. at least one of the lines contains symbolic names, math/areparallel applies assume to the condition that makes l1 and l2 parallel and calls itself again to return a solution (true or false).

This function is part of the math package, and so can be used only after performing the command with(math) or with(math, areparallel).

Examples:

> with(math):

> l1 := line(x+1);

[Maple Math]

> l2 := line(x+2);

[Maple Math]

> areparallel(l1, l2);

[Maple Math]

> l3 := line(m1*x+n1);

[Maple Math]

> l4 := line(m2*x+n2);

[Maple Math]

> geometry[AreParallel](l3, l4);

geometry[AreParallel]   "hint: cannot determine if -m1+m2 is zero"

[Maple Math]

> areparallel(l3, l4);

geometry/arepara:   "hint: cannot determine if -m1+m2 is zero"

areparallel:   "applying assume to -m1+m2 = 0"

[Maple Math]

See Also:

geometry/AreParallel , geometry/line , math/line .

Version History:

Version 1.0 - September 13, 1998