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Find the equation of the line through (-5, -11) that is perpendicular to the line passing through (-2, 1) and (2, -1).

User Khiry
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The equation of the line passing through the point (-5, -11) that is perpendicular to the line between (-2, 1) and (2, -1) is y = 2x - 1.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the equation of the line that goes through the point (-5, -11) and is perpendicular to the line passing through (-2, 1) and (2, -1), we first need to determine the slope of the given line. The slope (m) of a line through points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) can be calculated using the formula m = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1).

For the line through (-2, 1) and (2, -1), we calculate the slope:

m = (-1 - 1) / (2 + 2) = -2 / 4 = -1/2

The slope of a line perpendicular to this line will be the negative reciprocal of -1/2, which is 2.

Using the point-slope form of the equation y - y1 = m(x - x1) and the point (-5, -11), we plug in our values:

y - (-11) = 2(x - (-5))

Simplifying:

y + 11 = 2(x + 5)

y = 2x + 10 - 11

y = 2x - 1

The equation of the line that is perpendicular to the line passing through (-2, 1) and (2, -1) and goes through the point (-5, -11) is y = 2x - 1.

User Alexis Wilke
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