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Write an equation of the line that passes through (-3, 3) and is perpendicular to the line 2y = 8x - 6.

1 Answer

6 votes
My method is not the most common, but is correct:

Realize that if 2 lines are perpendicular, then the slope of one (call it "m") is the negative reciprocal of the slope of the other.

Solving 2y = 8x - 6 for y: y = 4x - 3. This has a slope of "m"=4, and so the slope of any line perpendicular to y = 4x - 3 will be -1/4.

Now we have the slope of the new line and know that this line passes through (-3,3). Use the point-slope formula here:

y-3 = (-1/4)(x-[-3]), or y-3 = (-1/4)(x+3)
User Rassar
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