Question

Find the slope of a line that is perpendicular to this equation. y= 3x+4 and goes through the point (-2, 1)

Answer 1

-1/3

Explanation:

Given the line:

`y=3x+4`

Comparing it with the slope-intercept form [y=mx+b], the slope of the line y=3x+4:

`m=3`

Definition: Two lines are perpendicular if the product of their slopes is -1.

Let the slope of the new perpendicular line = n.

`\begin{gathered} \implies m* n=-1 \\ 3* n=-1 \\ n=-(1)/(3) \end{gathered}`

The slope of a line that is perpendicular to the given equation is -1/3.

Note

It does not matter the point it goes through. Any line perpendicular to y=3x+4 will always have a slope of -1/3.