What is the slope of any line perpendicular to the line passing through #(8,16)# and #(-7,12)#?

1 Answer
Feb 13, 2016

Slope of line perpendicular to the line passing through #(8,16)# and #(-7,12)# will be #-15/4#.

Explanation:

If the two points are #(x_1, y_1)# and #(x_2, y_2)#, the slope of the line joining them is defined as

#(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1)# or #(y_1-y_2)/(x_1-x_2)#

As the points are #(8,16)# and #(-7,12)#

the slope of line joining them is #(12-16)/(-7-8)# or #(-4)/-15#

i.e. #4/15#

Further product of slopes of two lines perpendicular to each other is #-1#.

Hence slope of line perpendicular to the line passing through #(8,16)# and #(-7,12)# will be #-1/(4/15)# or #-15/4#.