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Line segment XY has endpoints X(5, 7) and Y(– 3, 3). Find the equation for the perpendicular bisector of line segment XY.

User Twelfth
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1 Answer

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Answer: The equation for the perpendicular bisector of line segment xy is .

Step-by-step explanation:

It is given that the line segment xy has endpoints x(5,7) and y(-3,3).

The bisector divides the line segment xy in two equal parts, so the bisector must be passing through the midpoint of xy.

Midpoint of two points (x_1,y_1) and (x_2,y_2) is calculated as,

Midpoint of xy is,

So, the perpendicular bisector must be passing through the point (1,5).

The slope of line passing through the point (x_1,y_1) and (x_2,y_2) is calculated as,

Slope of line segment is . Therefore the slope of perpendicular bisector is -2 because the the product of slopes of two perpendicular lines is always -1.

The line passing through the point (x_1,y_1) with slope m is defined as,

Bisector passing through the point (1,5) with slope 2.

Therefore, the equation for the perpendicular bisector of line segment xy is .

User Pedram Behroozi
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