Are the lines #x-3y=-3# and #6x+2y=12# perpendicular, parallel, or neither?
2 Answers
The given lines are mutually perpendicular.
Explanation:
Let the given lines be
Suppose that
Then,
Similarly,
Now,
the lines are perpendicular because when you multiply the slopes you get a value of negative one
Explanation:
If lines are parallel then their slopes are the same.
If lines are perpendicular their slopes are opposites
This means that when you multiply the slopes the results is negative one. ( The slopes are multiplicative inverses)
One line has a positive value which means it goes to the right
One line has a negative value which means it goes to the left.
One slope must have a value greater than one (or one)
One slope must have a value less than one ( or one)
It helps to change the equations to the y = mx + b form
m the coefficient of x is the slope.
The first equation is x - 3y = -3
First subtract x from both sides of the equation.
x -x - 3y = -x - 3 = -3y = -1 x -3
Next divide both sides by - 3 to get y by itself.
-3y/3 = -1x/3 + -3/-3 = y = + 1/3 x + 1
The slope = 1/3
The Second equation is 6x + 2y = 12
First subtract -6x from both sides of the equation
- 6x - 6x + 2y = -6x + 12 = 2y = -6x + 12
Next divide both sides by + 2 to get y by itself.
2y/2 = -6x/2 + 12/2 = y = -3 x + 6
The slope is -3
Multiply -3 x 1/3 = -1
The slopes are inverses or opposites so the lines will be perpendicular.