Complete Question:
The given line segment has a midpoint at (3, 1). On a coordinate plane, a line goes through (2, 4), (3, 1), and (4, -2).
What is the equation, in slope-intercept form, of the perpendicular bisector of the given line segment?
Answer:
![y = (1)/(3)x](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/euuukpx4tkn0i2032lkg6tm728peth7mz6.png)
Explanation:
From the question, we understand that the line goes through
![(2, 4), (3, 1), and\ (4, -2).](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/l0d5uu7dgt8vs3sfgkiejpqt6taximrypj.png)
First, we calculate the slope of the above points
![m = (y_2 - y_1)/(x_2 - x_1)](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/gjvq8ugonz7wbfcjxpwzkf808xsbjwfyvh.png)
Where
![(x_1,y_1) = (2,4)](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/iiun7k7nzdanu68lr3eyis1zh19exwe5wa.png)
![(x_2,y_2) = (3,1)](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/78br0bz1i26hk9ugx6lucm4xf40tj7tl1k.png)
![m = (1 - 4)/(3 - 2)](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/r47123jkw6g5upo11gyezupic7uv6vthpy.png)
![m = (-3)/(1)](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/3pu9o9pdivqyk5jtx1mw1e7ccb8fve6mue.png)
![m = -3](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/2q0zwfjcpr0hvd50h00u2fomc7m4xl9232.png)
Also; from the question, we understand that the line segment is perpendicular to the above points.
This slope (m2) of the line segment is calculated as:
![m_2 = -(1)/(m)](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/3337s8bi52ja3pz4cyzndclww1697eppqk.png)
Substitute -3 for m
![m_2 = -(1)/(-3)](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/efrg16o5zfoc5zdjiqheiq4ekq95qtwuqv.png)
![m_2 = (1)/(3)](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/sy2msyor8c82yuai505n31wel3pun4ptgj.png)
Lastly, we calculate the equation of the line using:
![y - y_1 = m_2(x - x_1)](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/middle-school/rsd1lsambf799xny7xc04fcxgsktq6zyuz.png)
The line segment has a midpoint at (3, 1)
So:
![y - 1 = (1)/(3)(x - 3)](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/qrwz49p69uwrx1uy3k9dbduqzjaw3ih9hu.png)
Open bracket
![y - 1 = (1)/(3)x - 1](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/lha4lep2z8ondag60rs37zc0kycfn8z86w.png)
Add 1 to both sides
![y - 1 +1= (1)/(3)x - 1+1](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/t9sq2nwatueppj03ncyjwqqdzld4p54yjp.png)
![y = (1)/(3)x](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/euuukpx4tkn0i2032lkg6tm728peth7mz6.png)
Hence, the equation of the line segment is:
![y = (1)/(3)x](https://img.qammunity.org/2021/formulas/mathematics/high-school/euuukpx4tkn0i2032lkg6tm728peth7mz6.png)