document.write( "Question 72641: Find the equation of the line that is perpendicular to the line
\n" ); document.write( "segment from (-3, 4) to (1, -2) and passes through the line segment
\n" ); document.write( "at its midpoint.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I'm not sure how to do the line when it is perpendicular, please help!
\n" ); document.write( "ThAnKs!
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Algebra.Com's Answer #51939 by checkley75(3666)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The slope is the key here.
\n" ); document.write( "Thus slope =(y2-y1)/(x2-x1)
\n" ); document.write( "(-2-4)/(1+3)
\n" ); document.write( "-6/4
\n" ); document.write( "-3/2 this is the slope through the 2 points.
\n" ); document.write( "the line equation here is:
\n" ); document.write( "4=-3/2*-3+b
\n" ); document.write( "4=9/2+b
\n" ); document.write( "b=4-9/2
\n" ); document.write( "b=4-4.5
\n" ); document.write( "b=-.5
\n" ); document.write( "thus the equation for this line is y=-3x/2-.5
\n" ); document.write( "the perpendicular line has a slope that is the negative reciprical of this slope. Thus:
\n" ); document.write( "this slope =2/3. the mid point of the line through (-3,4)(1,-2) is:
\n" ); document.write( "mid point of x=(1+3)2=4/2=2 or -3+2=-1 or 1-2=-1 so the x value is x=-1
\n" ); document.write( "mid point of y=(2+4)/2=6/2=3 or 4-3=1 or -2+3=1 so the midpoint is y=1
\n" ); document.write( "now we have a point & the slope thus the line equation is:
\n" ); document.write( "Y=mX+b
\n" ); document.write( "1=2/3*-1+b
\n" ); document.write( "1=-2/3+b
\n" ); document.write( "b=1-2/3
\n" ); document.write( "b=1/3 therefore the equation is:
\n" ); document.write( "y=2/3x+1/3
\n" ); document.write( "\"+graph%28+300%2C+300%2C+-10%2C+10%2C+-10%2C+10%2C+y+=+2x%2F3+%2B1%2F3%2C+y+=+-3x%2F2+-.5%29+\" (graph 300x300 pixels, x from -10 to 10, y from -10 to 10, of TWO functions y = 2x/3 +1/3 and y = -3x/2 -.5 ).
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