SOLUTION: Find the slope of the line that is perpendicular to the line that contains the points (-3,-3) and (5,2) A. -8/5 B. 8/5 C. -5/8 D. 5/8

Algebra ->  Linear-equations -> SOLUTION: Find the slope of the line that is perpendicular to the line that contains the points (-3,-3) and (5,2) A. -8/5 B. 8/5 C. -5/8 D. 5/8      Log On


   

Question 169824: Find the slope of the line that is perpendicular to the line that contains the points (-3,-3) and (5,2)
A. -8/5
B. 8/5
C. -5/8
D. 5/8
Found 2 solutions by jim_thompson5910, solver91311:
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
m=%28y%5B2%5D-y%5B1%5D%29%2F%28x%5B2%5D-x%5B1%5D%29 Start with the slope formula.


m=%282--3%29%2F%285--3%29 Plug in y%5B2%5D=2, y%5B1%5D=-3, x%5B2%5D=5, and x%5B1%5D=-3


m=%285%29%2F%285--3%29 Subtract -3 from 2 to get 5


m=%285%29%2F%288%29 Subtract -3 from 5 to get 8


So the slope of the line that goes through the points and is m=5%2F8

Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let m%5B1%5D be the slope of the line through (-3,-3) and (5,2). Then

m%5B1%5D=%28-3-2%29%2F%28-3-5%29=-5%2F-8=5%2F8

If line L%5B1%5D has a slope m%5B1%5D and line L%5B2%5D has a slope m%5B2%5D, L%5B1%5D is perpendicular to L%5B2%5D if and only if m%5B1%5D=-%281%2Fm%5B2%5D%29

Since the slope of the line through (-3,-3) and (5,2) is 5%2F8, the slope of any perpendicular must be -%288%2F5%29; Answer A, in this case.