Question

What is the slope of a line that is perpendicular to the line whose equation is 2x+7y=5?

Answer 1

The slope of the perpendicular line is 7/2

Explanation:

2x+7y=5

Solve for y to find the slope

2x-2x+7y=5-2x

7y = -2x+5

Divide by 7

7y/7 = -2/7 x +5/7

y = -2/7x + 5/7

The slope is -2/7

The slope of perpendicular lines multiply to -1

m * -2/7 = -1

Multiply each side by -7/2

m * -2/7 *-7/2 = -1 * -7/2

m = 7/2

The slope of the perpendicular line is 7/2

Answer 2

7/2x

Explanation:

Well first we need to put,

2x + 7y = 5,

into slope intercept

-2x

7y = -2x + 5

Divide y to all numbers

y = -2/7x + 5/7

So the slope for the given line is -2/7,

the slope of the line that is perpendicular to it is its reciprocal.

Meaning the slope of the perpendicular line is 7/2.

Thus,

the slope of the perpendicular line is 7/2x.

Hope this helps :)