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

1 Answer
Mar 12, 2018

1/7

Explanation:

Denoting

(2, 2) by (x_1, y_1)

and

(3, -5) by (x_2, y_2)

The slope of the line is the rise (difference between y values) divided by the run (difference between x values).

Denoting the slope by m

m = (y_2 - y_1)/(x_2 - x_1)

= (-5 - 2)/(3 - 2)

= -7/1

that is

m = -7

The slope of a line perpendicular to some other line is the negative reciprocal.

Denoting the required slope by m'

m' = -1/m = - 1/(-7) = 1/7