Question

write an equation of the line that is perpendicular to the line y=-x+6 and passes through (-2,-4)

Answer 1

okay, first you have to find out the perpendicular slope of y=-x+6 -x is the slope, so the perpendicular slope is the negative reciprocal so the negative slope for -x is x so the slope is positive 1 (another example would be from 4 to -1/4)
then you plug in the points given, and the perpendicular slope into point slope form (y1-y2=m(x1-x2) **remember m is slope)
next you get y--4=1(x--2) you can then simplify to y+4=x+2 and then subtract 4 from both sides getting y=x-2. Voila math! **keep in mind, you can leave in in point-slope form [ y--4=1(x--2) ] ut since its asking for a line, i suggest keeping it as y=x-2.**

Answer 2

Thank you so much! (:

Answer 3

I don't get the 4to -1/4 part, please help!

Answer 4

oh, that was just an example of taking a slope, and getting the perpendicular slope. if you had the slop of 4, to get the perpendicular slope from it, you would take 4 (basically 4/1) and flip the numerator and denominator. it then becomes 1/4. then to finish making it perpendicular, you make it negative of what it was----so if it was negative, you make it positive-- if it was positive, you make it negative.---- so it would then become -1/4. this was but an example, it was in no part of the problem so no worries!

Answer 5

Oh okay! :D
But to do the (m=y2-y1/x2-x1) don't I need to have 2 set of points not just one?

Answer 6

yes, to find the slope, you must have two coordinates