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Line l has a slope of −6/13. The line through which of the following pair of points is perpendicular to l? A. (13,−4),(−7,2) B. (6,−4),(−7,2) C. (2,6),(−4,−7) D. (6,9),(−4,−4)

1 Answer

5 votes

Answer: Choice C. (2,6) and (-4,-7)

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Step-by-step explanation:

The original line has a given slope of -6/13. The opposite reciprocal is 13/6. We flip the fraction and the sign from negative to positive.

With any two perpendicular slopes, they always multiply to -1

(-6/13)*(13/6) = (-6*13)/(13*6) = -78/78 = -1

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Since the perpendicular slope is 13/6, we need to see which of the four answer choices produces a slope of 13/6. Use the slope formula.

This is something you do through trial and error. You could start with A and work your way to D, or just pick at random. I'll go through each one by one starting at choice A.

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Let's try choice A

m = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1)

m = (2 - (-4))/(-7 - 13)

m = (2 + 4)/(-7 - 13)

m = 6/(-20)

m = -3/10, we can see that choice A is not the answer, since we want m = 13/6 instead.

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Let's try choice B

m = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1)

m = (2 - (-4))/(-7 - 6)

m = (2 + 4)/(-7 - 6)

m = 6/(-13)

m = -6/13, that doesn't work either

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Let's try choice C

m = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1)

m = (-7 - 6)/(-4 - 2)

m = -13/(-6)

m = 13/6, we found the answer

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For the sake of completeness, here is what choice D would look like

m = (y2 - y1)/(x2 - x1)

m = (-4 - 9)/(-4 - 6)

m = -13/(-10)

m = 13/10, which isn't the slope we want

User Alex Szabo
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