document.write( "Question 22849: I'm not real sure what catergory I should have put this question in, but I'm really having a difficult time understanding parallel and perpendicular lines.
\n" ); document.write( " here is the Question: Write an equation in slope-intercept form of a line with the following characteristics. Perpendicular to the graph of: y=3/2x-3.
\n" ); document.write( "my algebra book does not explain this well so if you could help me it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. chris \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #11224 by rapaljer(4671) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
If the given equation is y=3/2x -3, this means that the slope of the given line is $\"3%2F2\"$ . The slope of any line parallel to this line is also going to have a slope of $\"3%2F2\"$ , but that's another question. In this case, you need the slope of a line that is PERPENDICULAR to the given line. This slope would be the NEGATIVE RECIPROCAL of the slope $\"3%2F2\"$ which would be $\"-2%2F3\"$ .\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The equation of a line in slope intercept form is $\"y=mx%2Bb\"$ . So the slope of a line perpendicular to the given line must have slope of $\"-2%2F3\"$ , so the equation would be $\"y=+%28-2%2F3%29x%2Bb\"$ , where b could be any value, since no other restrictions were given. Usually the problem requires that the line pass through a given point, in which case you must also solve for b. But this too is another question!\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Final answer, $\"y=+%28-2%2F3%29x%2Bb\"$ , where b represents any number (which would also turn out to be the y intercept).\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "R^2 at SCC \n" ); document.write( "

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