SOLUTION: Billy rides his gas-efficient motor scooter to school everyday in a meandering way. He rides 5 miles north, then 3 miles east, then 6 miles south, then 8 miles west, then 3 miles

Algebra ->  Length-and-distance -> SOLUTION: Billy rides his gas-efficient motor scooter to school everyday in a meandering way. He rides 5 miles north, then 3 miles east, then 6 miles south, then 8 miles west, then 3 miles       Log On


   



Question 539772: Billy rides his gas-efficient motor scooter to school everyday in a meandering way. He rides 5 miles north, then 3 miles east, then 6 miles south, then 8 miles west, then 3 miles north, then 10 miles east, then 2 miles west, then 7 miles north, then 15 miles west, then 9 miles south, then 6 miles east, then 4 miles west, then 13 miles south, then 3 miles west, then 4 miles north, then 12 miles east to reach school. If, instead of meandering, Billy rode in a straight line to school, what would be the slope of the line perpendicular to the path? please show me the steps
Answer by josmiceli(19441) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Add all the North trips
+5+%2B+3+%2B+7+%2B+4+=+19+
Add all the South trips
+6+%2B+9+%2B+13+=+28+
Add all the east trips
+3+%2B+10+%2B+6+%2B+12+=+31+
Add all the West trips
+8+%2B+2+%2B+15+%2B+4+%2B+3+=+32+
Subtract North trips from South trips
+28+-+19+=+9+ mi South
Subtract East trips from West trips
+32+-+31+=+1+ mi West
This is a line from (0,0) to (-1,-9)
The slope is +%280+-%28-9%29%29+%2F+%280+-%28-1%29%29+=+9%2F1+
A line perpendicular to this path has
slope = -1/m = -1/9