Question

What is the slope of any line perpendicular to the line passing through `(-2,5)` and `(-8,1)`?

Answer 1

First, find the slope of the line between these points.

Explanation:

The formula for slope m = `(y_2 - y_1) / (x_2 - x_1)`

m = `(y_2 - y_1) / (x_2 - x_1)`

m = `(1 - 5)/(-8- (-2))`

m = `-4/6`

m = `-2/3`

The slope of a line perpendicular to this one has a slope that is the negative reciprocal of m.

So, the new slope is `3/2`

Practice exercises:

1. Here is the graph of a linear function. Find the slope of the line perpendicular to this one.

graph{y = 1/2x + 1 [-10, 10, -5, 5]}eh equations of the lines perpendicular

1. Below are linear function equations or linear function characteristics. Find the equations of the lines perpendicular to these functions:

a) 2x + 5y = -3

b) y - 2 = `1/3`(2x - 6)

c) Has an x intercept at (2,0) and a y intercept at (-5,0).

Good luck!