How do you write an equation that contains points (5, -3) and is perpendicular to y=5x?

1 Answer
Mar 13, 2018

#y = -1/5 x - 2 #

Explanation:

We know that this point goes through a point, but in order to define a line we need either two points or a point and a slope.

We can get that slope from the above equation. We know that the new line will have slope perpendicular to five. Perpendicularity means negative inverse, i.e. # m = - 1 / 5#.

From that, we know point-slope form:
#y-y_1 = m(x-x_1) implies y + 3 = -1/5(x - 5)#
#y = -1/5 x - 2 #