Question 148248
a) what is the slope of any line that is parallel to the line through (-3,-4) and (5,-1)

put the difference of the y's over the difference of the x's.


{{{(-4--1)/(-3-5)}}}


Simplify

{{{-3/-8}}} or {{{3/8}}}. That is the slope.  Any line that is parallel will have that slope.



b) what is the slope of a line that is perpendicular to the line through (5,4) and (5,-2)


put the difference of the y's over the difference of the x's.


{{{(4--2)/(5-5)}}}  


Simplify

{{{6/0}}}  That is the slope of the line. Undefined.


Find the reciprocal

{{{0/6}}}


Multiply it by -1


{{{-0/6}}} or {{{0}}}.  That is the slope of any line that is perpendicular.