Are #y=1/2x-1# and #y+4=-1/2(x-2)# parallel, perpendicular, or neither?

1 Answer
Aug 17, 2016

Neither

Explanation:

The equation of a straight line in slope #(m)# and intercept #(c)# form is: #y=mx+c#

To be parallel two straight lines must have equal slope #(m_1=m_2)#
To be perpendicular the slopes must satisfy #m_1=-1/m_2#

In this example equation #(1): y=1/2x-1 -> m_1 = 1/2#
and equation #(2): y+4=-1/2(x-2)#

#y=-1/2x-3 -> m_2 = -1/2#

Therefore: #m_1 = -m_2#

Since #m_1 != m_2# and #m_1!=-1/m_2# the lines are neither parallel nor perpendicular to eachother.