Question

What is the equation of the line that is perpendicular to the given line and passes through the point (3, 4)?

y = –1/3x + 5
y = –1/3x + 3
y = 3x + 2
y = 3x − 5

Answer 1

The line given has a slope of (2-1)/(-3-0), or 1/-3. The line perpendicular to this one would be the inverse multiplied by negative 1, or 3. Now we can plug in the numbers to solve for b (the y-intercept)
4=3(3)+b
4=9+b
-5=b
The answer is y=3x-5

Answer 2

y=3x-5

Explanation:

The line given has a slope of (2-1)/(-3-0), or 1/-3. The line perpendicular to this one would be the inverse multiplied by negative 1, or 3. Now we can plug in the numbers to solve for b (the y-intercept)

4=3(3)+b

4=9+b

-5=b

The answer is y=3x-5