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What is an equation in point-slope form for the line perpendicular to y = 7x + 15 that contains (3,-2)?

User Kimaya
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1 Answer

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Answer: y + 2 = - ¹/₇ (x - 3)

Explanation:

Find the slope of the perpendicular line

When two lines are perpendicular, the product of their slopes is -1. This means that the slopes are negative-reciprocals of each other.

⇒ if the slope of this line = 7

then the slope of the perpendicular line (m) = - ¹/₇

Determine the equation

We can now use the point-slope form (y - y₁) = m(x - x₁)) to write the equation for this line:

⇒ y - (-2) = - ¹/₇ (x - 3)

∴ y + 2 = - ¹/₇ (x - 3)

To test my answer, I have included a Desmos Graph that I graphed using the information provided in the question and my answer.

What is an equation in point-slope form for the line perpendicular to y = 7x + 15 that-example-1
User Stefan Riedel
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