Question

Choose the equation of the line passing through the point (4, -2) and perpendicular to y = one third x - 7

Answer 1

The slope-intercept form of the equation of a line is:

\(y = mx + b\)

where \(m\) is the slope, and \(b\) is the y-intercept.

You are given a line with the equation

\(y = \dfrac{1}{3}x - 7\)

That equation is also in the slope-intercept form. Can you tell what its slope is?

Answer 2

1/3

Answer 3

Great.
Do you know what is the relationship between the slopes of two perpendicular lines?

Answer 4

no

Answer 5

The slopes of two perpendicular lines are "negative reciprocals."
That means that when you multiply the two slopes together, you get -1.
That also means that if you know the slope of a line, and you want to know the slope of a perpendicular to that line, all you need to do is write the known slope as a fraction, then flip the fraction, then change the sign.

Answer 6

still don't know the answer....

Answer 7

For example, a line has slope 1/5. What is the slope of a perpendicular to that line?
That slope is already written as fraction, so we flip it to 5/1 or just simply 5. Then we change the sign to -5. The slope of the perpendicular is -5.

Answer 8

We're getting to the answer. I don't know it either until I do it.

Answer 9

ok thanks

Answer 10

Ok, now follow the example above. Since the known line has slope 1/3, what is the slope of the perpendicular?

Answer 11

can you just tell me the answer please?

Answer 12

No, sorry. OS is meant to help students, not to help students cheat.
As long as you try and keep answering my questions, I'll keep helping you until we solve the problem, but I won't just give an answer.

Answer 13

but I don't know any of the answers of your questions...........................