How do you find the slope that is perpendicular to the line #-5x-3y+8=0#?

1 Answer
Aug 26, 2016

The slope of one line and the slope of a line perpendicular to the first line are negative inverses of each other.

Explanation:

If Line1 has slope #m = 3# , then perpendicular Line2 will have slope #m = -1/3#

To find the slope of your line #−5x−3y+8=0#, let's put the equation in slope-intercept form:

#y = - (5/3)x + 8/3#

So, your line has slope #m =- 5/3#.

The slope of a line that is perpendicular to your line above will be the negative inverse, that is:

#(-1)/(-5/3)# , which equals positive # 3/5# .

(It's the lines that are perpendicular to each other, not the slopes. The slopes are negative inverses.)