Line p is perpendicular bisector of line MN. This means that it divides line MN equally. Thus, point B is the midpoint of line MN. Thus, we would find the midpoint of line MN by applying the midpoint formula which is expressed as
(x1 + x2)/2, (y1 + y2)/2
Looking at the given points of line MN,
x1 = - 5, y1 = 2
x2 = 7, y2 = - 1
Midpoint = (- 5 + 7)/2, (2 + - 1)/2
Midpoint = 2/2, 1/2
Midpoint = 1, 1/2
We would find the slope of line MN. The formula for finding slope is expressed as
m = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1)
Looking at the given points of line MN,
x1 = - 5, y1 = 2
x2 = 7, y2 = - 1
m = (- 1 - 2)/(7 - - 5) = - 3/(7 + 5) = - 3/12 = - 1/4
If two lines are perpendicular, it means that the slope of one line is the negative reciprocal of the slope of the other line. This means that the slope of line p is 4/1 = 4
Thus, line p is passing through point (1, 1/2) and has a slope of 4
The equation of a line in the slope intercept form is expressed as
y = mx + c
where
m represents slope
c represents y intercept
To determine the equation of line p, we would substitute m = 4, x = 1 and y = 1/2 into the slope intercept equation. It becomes
1/2 = 4 * 1 + c
1/2 = 4 + c
c = 1/2 - 4
c = - 7/2
Substituting m = 4 and c = - 7/2 into the slope intercept equation, the equation of line p would be
y = 4x - 7/2