How do you find the parallel and perpendicular slope of 3x-5y=-8?

1 Answer
Jul 27, 2016

Parallel slope = #3/5# and the perpendicular slope = #-5/3#

Explanation:

Change the equation of the line into standard form #y = mx +c#

#3x -5y = -8#

#3x +8 = 5y#

#y = 3/5x +8/5#

The slope of this line is #3/5#

Parallel lines have the same slope, so any line parallel to this one will have a a slope #m = 3/5#

If lines are perpendicular, their slopes are negative reciprocals of each other and we can show:

#m_1 xx m_2 = -1#

To find the negative reciprocal, turn the slop upside down and change the sign.

So, for #m_1 = 3/5, " "m_2 = -5/3#