SOLUTION: What is the equation of a line that contains the point (0,4) and is perpendicular to the line y-8=3(x-5)

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Question 658944: What is the equation of a line that contains the point (0,4) and is perpendicular to the line y-8=3(x-5)
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The slope of y-8=3(x-5) is 3.

Rewrite 3 as 3/1. Then flip the fraction and flip the sign to get -1/3

So the perpendicular slope is m = -1/3

Use this (m = -1/3) and the given point (0,4) and plug them into y = mx+b to get

y = mx + b

4 = (-1/3)(0) + b

Now solve for b

4 = 0 + b

4 = b

b = 4


So the equation of the perpendicular line is