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If a line through the origin has a slope of 2, what is the slope of the line through the origin that is perpendicular to

it?

User Arun Gowda
by
8.1k points

1 Answer

2 votes

Answer:


-(1)/(2)

Explanation:

We have the slope value of the first line, we will call this
m_(1)

so
m_(1)=2

And we use the condition so that two lines are perpendicular: the product of the two slopes must be equal to -1.

That is, if the slope of the first line is
m_(1) and the slope of the second line is
m_(2):


m_(1*)m_(2)=-1

we know that
m_(1)=2, so:


2m_(2)=-1

and clearing for
m_(2):


m_(2)=-(1)/(2)

the slope of the line perpendicular to the line with a slope of 2 is:
-(1)/(2)

User TridenT
by
8.3k points

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