document.write( "Question 491516: write the equation of a line that is perpendicular to the given line and that passes through the given point. 4x-12y=2;(10,-1)
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Algebra.Com's Answer #334659 by Jstrasner(112) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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Hey,\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So for this problem we need to look at what we have and construct another equation. First we should put the equation into terms that are most common, with y on one side and everything else on the other:
\n" ); document.write( "4x - 12y = 2 => -12y = 2 - 4x => 12y = -2 + 4x => y = -(2/12) + (4/12)x => y = (1/3)x - (1/6)
\n" ); document.write( "We can disregard the last number as it is specific to this line and not the one we are looking for.
\n" ); document.write( "Second, we need to figure out the slope of the first line to find the slope of the second line. The slope of the first line is (1/3). The lines are perpendicular, which means that their slopes are both reciprocal and negative of each other: first line: (1/3) second line: -3
\n" ); document.write( "The equation of a line is y = mx + b, where m is the slope which we have, and b is the coordinate on the y axis that the line crosses. We know the slope (-3). To find the b coordinate, we need to plug in the coordinates we were given at the beginning of the problem (10, -1):
\n" ); document.write( "y = -3x + b => -1 = -3(10) + b => -1 = -30 + b => 29 = b. Now we have the b coordinate and can construct a final formula:
\n" ); document.write( "y = -3x + 29
\n" ); document.write( "I know its confusing but just reread this and you will understand it.
\n" ); document.write( "I hope this helps!
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