What is the slope of a line perpendicular to the line with equation y = 5x – 2?

A.
–5

B.
5

C. 1/5

D.
–2

Question

What is the slope of a line perpendicular to the line with equation y = 5x – 2?
 
 A.
–5
 
 B.
5
 
 C.   1/5
 
 
 D.
–2

hero · Answer

@TakeA.I.M. Do you have an idea of which answer choice is correct and why?

anonymous · Answer

Idk but im guesssing it 5

tkhunny · Answer

Perpendicular lines, as long as neither is vertical, the product of their slopes is -1 - every time!

anonymous · Answer

when you see perpendicular slope you should automatically think negative reciprocal 
it should be -1/5

anonymous · Answer

How though?

anonymous · Answer

How is it -1/5? How did you get the answer

anonymous · Answer

perpendicular means to flip it so you have a 5x slope right?

anonymous · Answer

yea so

anonymous · Answer

so if you flip the five it is going to be 1/5 right? and then you negate it it is just a thing you have to know i did this 2 years ago and somehow i never forgot it

anonymous · Answer

ok thnx

anonymous · Answer

so that is how i got -1/5

anonymous · Answer

i hope i explained it good enough

anonymous · Answer

Yea you did well :D

anonymous · Answer

okay great glad to hear that and next time you see a problem think negative reciprocal and you will get it every time.