What is a perpendicular bisector? Don't define it, please give me an explanation?

Question

Like the above states. I already know the definition, but I'm not understanding the concept of it.

Can someone explain it to me in simpler terms in their OWN words and give examples? I'd appreciate it.

I just started Geo H (10th grade). Math is my worst subject, so please take that into consideration when explaining. Thank you!

Answer 1

A bisector is any line that divides a line segment into two equal parts.  As long as it cuts the line segment into two halves, it is a bisector.  It could make any angle (greater than 0 and less than 180 degrees) with the line segment.  There are many such bisectors, in fact there's an infinite number of them.

However there is one (and only one) bisector that makes an angle of 90 degrees with the line segment.  This is called the perpendicular bisector.

Say point A is at (-10,0) and point B is at (10,0).  The midpoint of line segment AB is at the origin (0,0).  Any line passing at the origin is a bisector of AB, because it cuts AB into two halves, AO and OB, each one 10 units long.  The y-axis is the perpendicular bisector because it makes a 90-degree angle with AB.