SOLUTION: Hello. Please help me! Due tomorrow :( Find the equation of the line which passes through the point of intersection of the lines 2*x+y=8 and 3*x+2*y=0 and is (A) perpendicular

Algebra ->  Length-and-distance -> SOLUTION: Hello. Please help me! Due tomorrow :( Find the equation of the line which passes through the point of intersection of the lines 2*x+y=8 and 3*x+2*y=0 and is (A) perpendicular       Log On


   



Question 798041: Hello. Please help me! Due tomorrow :(
Find the equation of the line which passes through the point of intersection of the lines 2*x+y=8 and 3*x+2*y=0 and is
(A) perpendicular to the x-axis
(B) perpendicular to the y-axis
I know the beginning of it: (2x+y-8)+k*(3x+2y) = 0
Please help me!! Thanks

Answer by KMST(5328) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The problem here is finding the point of intersection: (a,b).
After that, the line perpendicular to the x-axis, is a vertical line, and the equation of the vertical line passing through (a,b) is x=a (y does not play a part).
Similarly, the line perpendicular to the y-axis, is a horizontal line, and the equation of the horizontal line passing through (a,b) is y=b
We are looking for a pair (x,y) that satisfies 2x%2By=8 and 3x%2B2y=0.
We need to solve system%282x%2By=8%2C3x%2B2y=0%29.
You seemed to be trying to solve the system by combining the equations, which always works, but in this case, I would prefer to solve by substitution.
Since the coefficient of y in 2x%2By=8 is 1, I would solve the system by substitution starting by solving 2x%2By=8 for y.
(It seems easiest that way).
2x%2By=8-->y=8-2x
Substituting into 3x%2B2y=0
3x%2B2%288-2x%29=0-->3x%2B16-4x=0-->16-x=0-->highlight%28x=16%29

That is the solution to part (A), highlight%28x=16%29

Then, returning to the solved y=8-2x, and plugging in x=16, I get
y=8-2%2A16--->y=8-32-->highlight%28y=-24%29

That is the solution to part (B), highlight%28y=-24%29

IN PICTURES:
system solved, now the perpendicular lines

ANOTHER WAY TO SOLVE THE SYSTEM:
This may be what you were trying to do. Names for this procedure may vary. It may be called "by combinations", or "by elimination", or even fancier names).
The ways to show the work vary even more.
system%282x%2By=8%2C3x%2B2y=0%29-->system%282x%2By-8=0%2C3x%2B2y=0%29-->2%282x%2By-8%29-%283x%2B2y%29=0-->4x%2B2y-16-3x-2y=0-->x-16=0-->x=16%29
You can substitute x=16 into one of the equations to find y or you can make a different combination.
system%282x%2By-8=0%2C3x%2B2y=0%29-->3%282x%2By-8%29-2%283x%2B2y%29=0-->6x%2B3y-24-6x-4y=0-->-y-24=0-->y=-24