SOLUTION: Pls help!!! I’m desperate!!! The equation of the perpendicular bisector of the line segment joining the points $(-3,8)$ and $(-5,4)$ is $y = mx + b$. Find $m+b$. Note: The

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Question 1154202: Pls help!!! I’m desperate!!!
The equation of the perpendicular bisector of the line segment joining the points $(-3,8)$ and $(-5,4)$ is $y = mx + b$. Find $m+b$.
Note: The perpendicular bisector of the line segment $\overline{AB}$ is the line that passes through the midpoint of $\overline{AB}$ and is perpendicular to $\overline{AB}$.
Thank you!!!

Found 2 solutions by mananth, ikleyn:
Answer by mananth(16946)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.
D is the mid of BC
D(x1,y1)
x1= (-3-5)/2 =-4
y1= (8+4)/2 =6
slope of BC = (8-4)/(-3+5)= 2
Slope of AD = 1/2 ( it is perpendicular to BC)
Equation of AD = (y-y1)=m(x-x1)
(y-6)=1/2 * (x+4)
2y-12= x+4
2y = x+16
y= 1/2*x+8
compare with y= mx+b
m=1/2 and b =8
m+b = 1/2 +8

Answer by ikleyn(52800)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
.

            The solution by  @mananth is  INCORRECT,  unfortunately.

            So I came to provide a correct solution.

            I copied and pasted the solution by @mananth, and then fixed/edited it,  where required.


D is the mid of BC

D(x1,y1) 

x1= (-3-5)/2 =-4

y1= (8+4)/2 =6

slope of BC = (8-4)/(-3+5)= 2

Slope of AD = -1/2 ( it is perpendicular to BC)    <<<---=== it is first place, where I edit the solution by @mananth.
                                                             Surely, it implies changes in all lines that follow . . . 

Equation of  AD  is  (y-y1) = m(x-x1)

(y-6) = -1/2  * (x+4)

2y - 12 = -x - 4

2y = -x + 8

y= -1/2*x + 4

compare with y =  mx + b

m = -1/2 and b = 4

m+b = -1/2 + 4 =  = 3.5.        ANSWER

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If you really want to learn on how to solve such problems on your own,  in this site there are lessons that cover this subject.

The lessons are
    - Find the slope of a straight line in a coordinate plane passing through two given points
    - Equation for a straight line having a given slope and passing through a given point
    - Solving problems related to the slope of a straight line
    - Equation for a straight line in a coordinate plane passing through two given points
    - Equation for a straight line parallel to a given line and passing through a given point
    - Equation for a straight line perpendicular to a given line and passing through a given point (*)
    - Advanced problems on finding equations for straight lines

    - OVERVIEW of lessons related to the slope of a straight line

The most relevant to your current problem is the lesson marked  (*)  in the list.
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