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The point nearest to the origin on a line is at (4, -4). Find the standard form of the equation of the line.

The point nearest to the origin on a line is at (4, -4). Find the standard form of-example-1
User Rares Dima
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4.7k points

1 Answer

5 votes

Answer: Choice C) x-y-8 = 0


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How to get this answer:


First find the equation of the line through the origin (0,0) and (4,-4)


slope:

m = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1)

m = (-4-0)/(4-0)

m = -4/4

m = -1


Slope intercept form:

y = mx+b

y = -1*x+b

-4 = -1*4+b

-4 = -4+b

-4+4 = -4+b+4

0 = b

b = 0


The equation of the line through (0,0) and (4,-4) is y = -1x+0 which simplifies to y = -x


The perpendicular line is the one we want. This line will go through (4,-4)


The original slope is m = -1 = -1/1

The perpendicular slope is -1/m = -1/(-1/1) = 1


Recompute the y intercept

y = mx+b

-4 = 1*4+b

-4 = 4+b

-4-4 = 4+b-4

-8 = b

b = -8


The slope intercept equation we want is

y = x-8


Convert to standard form

y = x-8

y-y = x-8-y

0 = x-y-8

x-y-8 = 0


Which is why the answer is choice C


The line x-y-8=0 contains the point (4,-4) which is the closest point to the origin.


User Bernhard Thalmayr
by
5.0k points