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a right triangle is formed by fbe y-axis, the y = 2x + 4, and another line. if the legs of the right triangle intersect at (2, 8), what is the equation of the line other line of the triangle?

1 Answer

1 vote

Answer is y = -0.5x + 9

Replace -0.5 with the fraction -1/2 if needed.

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Step-by-step explanation:

The legs of any right triangle are always perpendicular. They meet up to form a right angle, aka 90 degree angle.

The line y = 2x+4 goes through (2,8). This can be confirmed with a graph. Or note how plugging x = 2 leads to y = 8.

Therefore, y = 2x+4 forms one of the legs of this triangle.

The slope here is 2 = 2/1; the negative reciprocal is -1/2 = -0.5, which is the slope of the perpendicular line. We want this line to go through (2,8)

So,

y = mx+b

8 = -0.5*2+b

8 = -1+b

8+1 = b

9 = b

b = 9

The equation of the perpendicular line is y = -0.5x+9

Replace -0.5 with the fraction -1/2 if needed.

Check out the graph below.

a right triangle is formed by fbe y-axis, the y = 2x + 4, and another line. if the-example-1
User Mrudav Shukla
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