SOLUTION: Please help. Find the slope of any line perpendicular to the line through points (9, 20) and (3, 2). Thanks JMS

Algebra ->  Linear-equations -> SOLUTION: Please help. Find the slope of any line perpendicular to the line through points (9, 20) and (3, 2). Thanks JMS       Log On


   

Question 112014: Please help.
Find the slope of any line perpendicular to the line through points
(9, 20) and (3, 2).
Thanks
JMS
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First find the slope through (9, 20) and (3, 2):


Solved by pluggable solver: Finding the slope


Slope of the line through the points (9, 20) and (3, 2)



m+=+%28y%5B2%5D+-+y%5B1%5D%29%2F%28x%5B2%5D+-+x%5B1%5D%29


m+=+%282+-+20%29%2F%283+-+9%29


m+=+%28-18%29%2F%28-6%29


m+=+3



Answer: Slope is m+=+3





Now to find the perpendicular slope, simply negate 3 to get -3. Now take the reciprocal of -3 (think of it as -3%2F1) to get -1%2F3

So the perpendicular slope to the line through (9, 20) and (3, 2) is -1%2F3