Question

Find the equation of the line perpendicular to the line y=-1, going through the points (-5,4) using the formula y-y1=m(x-x1)

Answer 1

We are asked to determine the equation of a line that is perpendicular to the line:

`y=-1`

This is the equation of a horizontal line therefore a perpendicular line is a vertical line. Therefore, it must have the form:

`x=k`

The value of "k" is determined by a point "x" where the line passes. Since the line passes through the point (-5, 4), this means that the equation of the line is:

`x=-5`

And thus we have determined the equation of the perpendicular line.