SOLUTION: Can someone help me out on this problem? I need to determine which two equations represent perpendicular lines: (a) y = 5/8 x -3 (b) y = 3x

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Question 57242: Can someone help me out on this problem?
I need to determine which two equations represent perpendicular lines:
(a) y = 5/8 x -3 (b) y = 3x - 5/8 (c) y = -1/3 x + 5/8 (d) y = 1/3 x - 5/8
Thank you, Ashley
Answer by funmath(2933) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Hi Ashley,
I need to determine which two equations represent perpendicular lines:
(a) y = 5/8 x -3 (b) y = 3x - 5/8 (c) y = -1/3 x + 5/8 (d) y = 1/3 x - 5/8
The slope intercept form of a line is: , where m=slope and (0,b)=y-intercept.
Perpendicular lines have slopes that are negative reciprocals of each other. They have opposite signs and are upside down.
(a) has a slope of 5/8
(b) has a slope of 3, which can be written as 3/1
(c) has a slope of -1/3
(d) has a slope of 1/3
:
(b) and (c) have slopes that are opposite signs and upside down, they are perpendicular.
Happy Calculating, Ashley!!!

SOLUTION: Can someone help me out on this problem? I need to determine which two equations represent perpendicular lines: (a) y = 5/8 x -3 (b) y = 3x - 5/8 (c) y = -1/3 x + 5