Question

The graphs of 4x + 12y + 8 and y = mx + 5 are perpendicular. What is the value of m?

Answer 1

m=3

Explanation:

To get a perpendicular equation to another equation, the slope must be the reciprocal of it.

First, you need to isolate the y variable so you can identify the slope.

12y = 8 - 4x

Divide both sides by 12 (and for me I like to keep x close to y).

`y=-1/3x+2/3`

Now that we have converted it to y=mx+b, we can compare. The reciprocal of 1/3 is 3.

so m = 3.