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Prove, by contradiction, that three distinct lines in the plane cannot be perpendicular to one another.


One way to do this would be to let the lines be

y=px+ay=qx+by=rx+c

Suppose they are perpendicular to each other and consider the relationship between p,q and r.


If the lines are perpendicular, then

pq=−1qr=−1rp=−1

What is wrong with this? (Try multiplying the first two equations!)