SOLUTION: I am taking a college course and this is a homework problem I cant solve or for that matter understand Find the equation for the line passing through the origin and perpen

Algebra ->  Finance -> SOLUTION: I am taking a college course and this is a homework problem I cant solve or for that matter understand Find the equation for the line passing through the origin and perpen      Log On


   

Question 288136: I am taking a college course and this is a homework problem I cant solve or for that matter understand



Find the equation for the line passing through the origin and perpendicular to y = ½ x – 2
Eric
Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First recall that perpendicular lines have slopes that are the negative reciprocal of each other.
In other words, if one of the lines has a slopem+=+1%2F3, then the slope of the perpendicular line ism+=+-3.
In your problem, you are given the liney+=+%281%2F2%29x-2 whose slopem+=+1%2F2. The new perpendicular line will then have a slopem+=+-2, so using the slope-intercept form of the linear equation, we have:
y+=+-2x%2Bb To find the value of b (the y-intercept), substitute the x- and y-coordinates of the origin (0, 0).
y+=+-2x%2Bb Substitute x = 0 and y = 0.
0+=+-2%280%29%2Bb so b = 0.
The final equation will be:
highlight%28y+=+-2x%29