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Write an equation of the line that passes through the point (-6,2) and is perpendicular to the line 5/2x+2

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Answer: y = - ²/₅ x - ²/₅ OR y - 2 = - ²/₅ (x + 6)

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 = ⁵/₂

then the slope of the perpendicular line (m) = - ²/₅

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 = - ²/₅ (x - (-6))

∴ y - 2 = - ²/₅ (x + 6)

We can also write the equation in the slope-intercept form by making y the subject of the equation and expanding the bracket to simplify:

since y - 2 = - ²/₅ (x + 6)

y = - ²/₅ x - ²/₅ (slope-intercept form)

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

Write an equation of the line that passes through the point (-6,2) and is perpendicular-example-1
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