Question

What is the perpendicular slope to the segment whose endpoints are (-7, -5) and (9, 3)?

Answer 1

perpendicular slope = - 2

Explanation:

calculate the slope m using the slope formula

m =
`(y_(2)-y_(1) )/(x_(2)-x_(1) )`

with (x₁, y₁ ) = (- 7, - 5 ) and (x₂, y₂ ) = (9, 3 )

m =
`(3-(-5))/(9-(-7))` =
`(3+5)/(9+7)` =
`(8)/(16)` =
`(1)/(2)`

given a line with slope m then the slope of a line perpendicular to it is

`m_(perpendicular)` = -
`(1)/(m)` = -
`(1)/((1)/(2) )` = - 2