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What is the slope of a line that is perpendicular to the line whose equation is ax by=c?

1 Answer

4 votes

Answer:

b/a

Explanation:

Perpendicular lines have slopes that are opposite sign and reciprocals (flipped over).

In the equation

ax + by = c,

the slope of the line is

-a/b

If you haven't memorized this pattern yet, you can calculate it by solving ax+by=c for y.

by = -ax +c

y = -a/b x + c/b

The slope is -a/b

So a perpendicular line would be opposite sign and flipped, b/a

User Austin
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