document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=73812>Question 73812</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Find the slope of any line perpendicular to the line through points (3, 12) and (5, 4).\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "(A)–4 (B)4 (C)-1/4 (D)1/4   \r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #52788 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=bucky><B>bucky(2189)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=bucky><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=52788\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> First find the slope of the line connecting the two points (3, 12) and (5, 4).<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Recall that the slope is defined as the change in y values divided by the change in x values.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "In going from point (3,12) to point (5,4) note that the value of x goes from +3 to +5, a <BR>\n" );
document.write( "change of +2.  Also in going from point (3,12) to point (5,4) note that y goes from +12<BR>\n" );
document.write( "to +4, a change of -8.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Therefore, the slope, call it m, of this line is:<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=m+=+%28-8%29%2F%282%29=+-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"m+=+%28-8%29%2F%282%29=+-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Once you have the slope of the line, you take the negative inverse of the slope and you have<BR>\n" );
document.write( "the slope of the perpendicular line.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "The inverse of -4 is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F-4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F-4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > and the negative of that is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=-1%2F-4+=+1%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"-1%2F-4+=+1%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
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document.write( "So answer D is the correct answer.  The slope of the line perpendicular to the line that<BR>\n" );
document.write( "joins the points (3,12) and (5,4) is <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=1%2F4 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"1%2F4\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Hope this helps.  To find the slope of a perpendicular, first find the slope of the line and<BR>\n" );
document.write( "then take the negative inverse of that slope.  The inverse is found by dividing 1 by the slope<BR>\n" );
document.write( "of the original line and once you find that inverse, multiply it by minus 1.<BR>\n" );
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