What is the equation of a line that is perpendicular to the line represented by #2x-y = 7#?

1 Answer
Daksh S.
Mar 23, 2017

You need to define a point through which they both pass.

Explanation:

You have #2x-y=7#

This becomes #y = 2x-7# and this is of the form of #y = mx + c# where #m# is the slope of the line and #c# is the y-intercept of the line, i.e. where #x=0#

When 2 lines are perpendicular, the product of their slopes is #-1#. I can explain this via trigonometry, but that's a higher level of math, which you don't require in this question.

So, let the slope of the required line be #n#

We have #2xxn=-1#

#n = -1/2#

In this question, we don't have enough information to calculate the y-intercept, so I'll leave it at

#y = -x/2 + d#
where #d# is the y-intercept of the required line.

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