SOLUTION: Find an equation for the line that is perpendicular to the line y =&#65288;2/7&#65289;x + 3 and that passes through the point (3,&#8722;17).

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Question 500615: Find an equation for the line that is perpendicular to the line y =（2/7）x + 3 and that passes through the point (3,−17).
Answer by solver91311(24713) (Show Source):
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Step 1: Determine the slope of the line represented by the given equation. Since the given equation is in slope-intercept form, the slope is determined by inspection of the coefficient on .

Step 2: Calculate the negative reciprocal of the slope determined in step 1.

Step 3: Use the fact that the slope of perpendicular lines have slopes that are negative reciprocals, i.e.

and the two-point form of an equation of a line to write the desired equation:

where are the coordinates of the given point and is the calculated slope.

Check with your teacher/instructor/professor as to the desired form of the answer -- generally either slope-intercept form: or standard form: -- and arrange the result of step 3 to fit the appropriate form.

Note: Some texts and/or professors require that the coefficients in standard form be integers.

John

My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it

SOLUTION: Find an equation for the line that is perpendicular to the line y =&#65288;2/7&#65289;x + 3 and that passes through the point (3,&#8722;17).

SOLUTION: Find an equation for the line that is perpendicular to the line y =（2/7）x + 3 and that passes through the point (3,−17).