Question

Segment TU has endpoints T(0 , -3) and U(0, 1). Select the equation in point-slope form for the perpendicular bisector of TU.

y - 1 = 0
y - 1= 2
y + 1 = -2
y + 1 = 0

Answer 1

Any ideas?

Answer 2

not in the slightest

Answer 3

Do you know what the point-slope form looks like?

Answer 4

something like y- somethinng plus somethnig

Answer 5

You need to memorize the exact form: $$\Huge y-y_0 =m(x-x_0)$$

Answer 6

but which numbers go where?

Answer 7

The y sub 0 and x sub 0 are the coordinates of the point on the line

and m is the slope of the line.

That's why it's called the point-slope form of an equation of a line :-)

Answer 8

i see

Answer 9

Also, note x and y are the variables, right?

Answer 10

Now by drawing a sketch of T(0, -3) and U(0,1) you will see that the given line segment is on the y-axis and has length 4.

Thus, the midpoint is M(0, -1).

All you need now is the equation of a horizontal line that goes through that point because a horizontal line is perpendicular to a vertical line.

The answer choice should be equivalent to y = -1.

Look at y + 1 = 0 and subtract 1 from both sides.

Answer 11

Looking back at the point-slope form and using m = 0,

because all horizontal lines have a slope of 0 and the point M(0, -1)

gives y + 1 = 0 as the answer in point-slope form.