Question

What is the slope of any line perpendicular to the line passing through `(-3,-8)` and `(5,2)`?

Answer 1

`"perpendicular slope "=-4/5`

Explanation:

`"calculate the slope m using the "color(blue)"gradient formula"`

`•color(white)(x)m=(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1)`

`"let "(x_1,y_1)=(-3,-8)" and "(x_2,y_2)=(5,2)`

`m=(2-(-8))/(5-(-3))=10/8=5/4`

`"the perpendicular slope is the "color(blue)"negative reciprocal"" of m"`

`m_("perpendicular")=-1/m=-1/(5/4)=-4/5`