Question

Consider the line `x- 8y =2`. What is the slope of a line perpendicular to this line? What is the slope of a line parallel to this line?

Answer 1

Slope of line perpendicular to `y` is `-8`
Slope of line parallel to `y` is `1/8`

Explanation:

`x-8y=2 -> y=x/8-1/4`

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

`:.` In this example, the slope of the line `y` is: `1/8`

If two lines of slopes `m_1` and `m_2` are perpendicular to eachother, then: `m_1 xx m_2 = -1`

Hence the slope `(m_2)` of the line perpendicular to `y` will have a slope of: `-1/(1/8) = -8`

Any line parallel to `y` will have the same slope `(m_1)` as `y`

Hence, a line parallel to `y` has a slope of `1/8`