SOLUTION: a line passes through a(1,-3) and b(2,7) write the equation of a line perpendicular to a. how would you go about solving this problem?

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Question 15290: a line passes through a(1,-3) and b(2,7)
write the equation of a line perpendicular to a. how would you go about solving this problem?
Answer by rapaljer(4671) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
First find the slope of the given line:
m=+%28y%5B2%5D-y%5B1%5D%29%2F%28+x%5B2%5D+-+x%5B1%5D%29

m=+%287-%28-3%29%29%2F%282-1%29+=+10%2F1+=+10

The slope of a line perpendicular to this line is tne negative reciprocal of the slope of this line. So, the slope of a line perpendicular to this line has a slope of %28-1%29%2F10.

The equation of a line that is perpendicular to the line between these two points will be in the form y+=+%28-1%2F10%29x%2Bb where b is the y-intercept of the line. Notice that there are many, many (in fact, infinitely many) lines that are perpendicular to this line segment, and to determine which particular line you are looking for, more information must be given in the problem.

Final answer, y+=+%28-1%2F10%29x%2Bb .

R^2 at SCC