document.write( "Question 534370: As hard as I try, I have been unable to understand this lesson, much less answer anything correctly. This is an example homework question:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Write an equation of the line containing the given point and perpendicular to the given line. Express your answer in the form of y=mx+b\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(2, -6); 8x + 5y = 6\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I know that I'm supposed to subtract 8x from both sides (to solve for y), and I am able to complete the first step correctly:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "5y = -8x + 6\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "It then tells me to divide each side by 5 (this is where my answer does not match up with the correct homework answer) and I get:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "y = 8 6
\n" ); document.write( " - _ x + _
\n" ); document.write( " 5 5\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The correct answer is:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "y = 8 29
\n" ); document.write( " - __ x - __
\n" ); document.write( " 5 4\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "What am I doing wrong???
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #351478 by Alan3354(69443)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Write an equation of the line containing the given point and perpendicular to the given line. Express your answer in the form of y=mx+b
\n" ); document.write( "(2,-6); 8x + 5y = 6
\n" ); document.write( "---------------
\n" ); document.write( "Find the slope of the line.
\n" ); document.write( "To do that, put it in slope-intercept form. That means solve for y.
\n" ); document.write( "8x + 5y = 6
\n" ); document.write( "5y = -8x + 6
\n" ); document.write( "y = (-8/5)x + 6/5
\n" ); document.write( "The slope, m, is the coefficient of x in this form.
\n" ); document.write( "m = -8/5
\n" ); document.write( "----------
\n" ); document.write( "The slope of lines perpendicular is the negative inverse.
\n" ); document.write( "m = 5/8
\n" ); document.write( "------------
\n" ); document.write( "Use y = mx + b and the point (2,-6) to find b
\n" ); document.write( "-6 = (5/8)*2 + b
\n" ); document.write( "b = -29/4
\n" ); document.write( "-----------
\n" ); document.write( "For the line perpendicular, m = 5/8 and b = -29/4
\n" ); document.write( "--> y = (5/8)x - 29/4
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