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Find an equation in slope-intercept form for the line that has an x-intercept of 3 and is perpendicular to the graph of -2x + 5y = 6.

a) y = 2/5x - 15/2
b) y = 2/5x + 6/5
c) y = 5/2x - 3
d) y = -5/2x + 15/2

User Hiedi
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The equation of the line perpendicular to -2x + 5y = 6 with an x-intercept at 3 is y = -5/2x + 15/2, aligning with option d). This is found by calculating the negative reciprocal of the original line's slope and using the point-slope form of a linear equation.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find an equation in slope-intercept form for a line that is perpendicular to another and has a given x-intercept, we need to determine two things: the slope of the line we're seeking (which must be the negative reciprocal of the slope of the given line), and its y-intercept.

Firstly, let's find the slope of the given line -2x + 5y = 6.

We can rewrite it in slope-intercept form (y = mx + b).

Doing so, we get y = (2/5)x + 6/5. Therefore, the slope (m) of the given line is 2/5.

The slope of a line perpendicular to this would be the negative reciprocal, which is -5/2.

Next, since the line has an x-intercept at 3, the coordinates of the x-intercept are (3, 0).

We now use the slope we found and this point to write the equation of our new line.

Starting with the slope-intercept form y = mx + b and substituting m = -5/2 and the coordinates of the point, we have 0 = (-5/2)(3) + b. Solving for b gives us b = 15/2.

Therefore, the equation of the line we're looking for is y = -5/2x + 15/2, which matches option d).

User Darden
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