SOLUTION: A line passes through the origin and the point (-6, 5). Write the equation of the line that passes through (-6, 5) and is perpendicular to the given line. Write the final ans

Algebra ->  Linear-equations -> SOLUTION: A line passes through the origin and the point (-6, 5). Write the equation of the line that passes through (-6, 5) and is perpendicular to the given line. Write the final ans      Log On


   



Question 102253: A line passes through the origin and the point (-6, 5).
Write the equation of the line that passes through (-6, 5) and is perpendicular to the given line.
Write the final answer in the slope-intercept form y = mx + b.
(The slope and y-intercept must be written as fractions, when needed).

Answer by edjones(8007) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Solved by pluggable solver: Finding the slope


Slope of the line through the points (0, 0) and (-6, 5)



Answer: Slope is m+=+-5%2F6


the slope of a line perpendicular to the given line is m=-%281%2Fm%5B1%5D%29=6%2F5
Solved by pluggable solver: FIND a line by slope and one point

What we know about the line whose equation we are trying to find out:

  • it goes through point (-6, 5)

  • it has a slope of 1.2



First, let's draw a diagram of the coordinate system with point (-6, 5) plotted with a little blue dot:



Write this down: the formula for the equation, given point x%5B1%5D%2C+y%5B1%5D and intercept a, is

y=ax+%2B+%28y%5B1%5D-a%2Ax%5B1%5D%29 (see a paragraph below explaining why this formula is correct)

Given that a=1.2, and system%28+x%5B1%5D+=+-6%2C+y%5B1%5D+=+5+%29+, we have the equation of the line:

y=1.2%2Ax+%2B+12.2

Explanation: Why did we use formula y=ax+%2B+%28y%5B1%5D+-+a%2Ax%5B1%5D%29 ? Explanation goes here. We are trying to find equation y=ax+b. The value of slope (a) is already given to us. We need to find b. If a point (x%5B1%5D, y%5B1%5D) lies on the line, it means that it satisfies the equation of the line. So, our equation holds for (x%5B1%5D, y%5B1%5D): y%5B1%5D+=+a%2Ax%5B1%5D%2Bb Here, we know a, x%5B1%5D, and y%5B1%5D, and do not know b. It is easy to find out: b=y%5B1%5D-a%2Ax%5B1%5D. So, then, the equation of the line is: +y=ax%2B%28y%5B1%5D-a%2Ax%5B1%5D%29+.

Here's the graph:



y=%286%2F5%29x%2B%2861%2F5%29
Ed