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Write the equation of the line passing through point (4, -1) and perpendicular to the line whose equation is 2x - y - 7 = 0.

User Wadkar
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1 Answer

2 votes
Answer:

x + 2y + 4 =0

Step-by-step explanation:

1) You know a point (4 - 1) and that the line is perpendicular to a given line.

2) From the equation of the perpendicular line whose equation was given, you determine the slope, for which you can use the slope-intercept form of the equation:

2x - y - 7 = 0 => y = 2x + 7.

The slope is the coeffiicient of x, which is 2.

Therefore, slope = 2.

3) The slope of the other line is the negative inverse of the slope of the perpedicular line:

slope = - 1/2

4) Now that you have the slope of your line and the point (4, - 1) you determine the equation with this procedure:

y - b
------- = slope
x - a

where a y b are the coordinates of the point (4, - 1) and the slope is -1/2

=>

y - (-1)
---------- = - 1/2
x - 4

5) Simplify

2(y + 1) = - (x - 4)

2y + 1 = - x + 4

2y + x +1 + 4 = 0

x + 2y + 4 =0 <---------- this is the equation searched.

User Aslanpayi
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7.2k points