Final answer:
The equation of the line that is perpendicular to y = -2/7x + 9 and passes through the point (4, -6) is y = (7/2)x - 20.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the equation of a line that is perpendicular to another line, we need the negative reciprocal of the original line's slope. The given line has an equation y = -2/7x + 9, which means its slope (m) is -2/7. The negative reciprocal of -2/7 is 7/2. This will be the slope of the perpendicular line.
Next, we use the point-slope form of a line's equation, which is y - y1 = m(x - x1), where (x1, y1) is a point on the line, and m is the slope of the line. Substituting the point (4, -6) and the slope 7/2, we get:
y + 6 = (7/2)(x - 4)
To find the slope-intercept form, solve for y:
y + 6 = (7/2)x - 14
y = (7/2)x - 14 - 6
y = (7/2)x - 20
The equation of the line perpendicular to the original line and passing through the point (4, -6) is y = (7/2)x - 20.