SOLUTION: A line passing through (–6, –5) and (–1, y) is perpendicular to a line with slope -5/13 . Find the value of y

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Question 123790: A line passing through (–6, –5) and (–1, y) is perpendicular to a line with slope -5/13 . Find the value of y
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
A line passing through (–6, –5) and (–1, y) is perpendicular to a line with slope -5/13 . Find the value of y
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It's useful to remember that the relationship of slopes of perpendicular lines is:
m1 * m2 = -1
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Let m1 = -5/3, the given slope
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m2 = slope of given coordinates line
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Find m2
(-5/3)*m2 = -1
:
m2 = -1 * (-3/5); (invert and multiply dividing fractions)
m2 = +3/5
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Using the slope formula: %28y2-y1%29%2F%28x2-x1%29 = m
Assign the given coordinates: x1=-6, y1=-5; x2=-1; y2=y
%28y+-%28-5%29%29%2F%28-1-%28-6%29%29+=+3%2F5
%28y+%2B+5%29%2F%28-1+%2B+6%29+=+3%2F5
%28%28y%2B5%29%29%2F5+=+3%2F5
:
Both have the same denominators so we can say:
y + 5 = 3
y = 3 - 5
y = -2
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Check using the slope formula with y=-2
%28-2+-%28-5%29%29%2F%28-1-%28-6%29%29+=+3%2F5
%28-2+%2B+5%29%2F%28-1+%2B+6%29+=+3%2F5 confirms our solution