Question

What is the difference between a bisector and a perpendicular bisector?

Answer 1

A (segment) bisector is any segment, line, or ray that splits another segment into two congruent parts.

For example, in the picture, if `bar(DE)congbar(EB)`, then `bar(AC)` is the bisector of `bar(DC)` since it split it into two equal sections.

A perpendicular bisector is a special, more specific form of a segment bisector. In addition to splitting another segment into two equal parts, it also forms a right angle (90˚) with said segment.

Here, `bar(DE)` is the perpendicular bisector of `bar(AC)` since `bar(AC)` is split into two congruent segments—`bar(AE)` and `bar(EC)`.