Question

Write an equation of a line that is perpendicular to the line y=2/3x and passes through origin

Answer 1

keeping in mind that perpendicular lines have negative reciprocal slopes, hmmm what's the slope of the equation above anyway?

`\bf y = \cfrac{2}{3}x\implies y = \stackrel{\stackrel{m}{\downarrow }}{\cfrac{2}{3}}x+0\qquad \impliedby \begin{array} \cline{1-1} slope-intercept~form\\ \cline{1-1} \\ y=\underset{y-intercept}{\stackrel{slope\qquad }{\stackrel{\downarrow }{m}x+\underset{\uparrow }{b}}} \\\\ \cline{1-1} \end{array} \\\\[-0.35em] ~\dotfill`

`\bf \stackrel{\textit{perpendicular lines have \underline{negative reciprocal} slopes}} {\stackrel{slope}{\cfrac{2}{3}}\qquad \qquad \qquad \stackrel{reciprocal}{\cfrac{3}{2}}\qquad \stackrel{negative~reciprocal}{-\cfrac{3}{2}}}`

so we're really looking for the equation of a line whose slope is -3/2 and runs through (0,0).

`\bf (\stackrel{x_1}{0}~,~\stackrel{y_1}{0})~\hspace{10em} \stackrel{slope}{m}\implies -\cfrac{3}{2} \\\\\\ \begin{array} \cline{1-1} \textit{point-slope form}\\ \cline{1-1} \\ y-y_1=m(x-x_1) \\\\ \cline{1-1} \end{array}\implies y-\stackrel{y_1}{0}=\stackrel{m}{-\cfrac{3}{2}}(x-\stackrel{x_1}{0})\implies y=-\cfrac{3}{2}x`