SOLUTION: Help please..find the slope of any line perpendicular to the line through points (10, 18) and (6, 10). a. -1/2 b. 1/2 c. -2 d. 2

Algebra ->  Linear-equations -> SOLUTION: Help please..find the slope of any line perpendicular to the line through points (10, 18) and (6, 10). a. -1/2 b. 1/2 c. -2 d. 2      Log On


   

Question 321301: Help please..find the slope of any line perpendicular to the line through points (10, 18) and (6, 10).
a. -1/2
b. 1/2
c. -2
d. 2
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Step 1) Find the slope of the line through the points (10, 18) and (6, 10)


Note: is the first point . So this means that x%5B1%5D=10 and y%5B1%5D=18.
Also, is the second point . So this means that x%5B2%5D=6 and y%5B2%5D=10.


m=%28y%5B2%5D-y%5B1%5D%29%2F%28x%5B2%5D-x%5B1%5D%29 Start with the slope formula.


m=%2810-18%29%2F%286-10%29 Plug in y%5B2%5D=10, y%5B1%5D=18, x%5B2%5D=6, and x%5B1%5D=10


m=%28-8%29%2F%286-10%29 Subtract 18 from 10 to get -8


m=%28-8%29%2F%28-4%29 Subtract 10 from 6 to get -4


m=2 Reduce


So the slope of the line that goes through the points and is m=2

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Step 2) Take the reciprocal of the given slope and change the sign.


Since the slope of the line that goes through the points and is m=2, which can be written as m=2%2F1, we can flip the fraction and then change the sign to get the perpendicular slope of m=-1%2F2


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Answer:


The slope of ANY line perpendicular to the line that goes through the points and is -1%2F2 making the answer a)