How do you find the slope that is perpendicular to the line #2x + y = 4#?

1 Answer
Anthony R.
May 18, 2017

#1/2#

Explanation:

First set the equation in terms of #y#:

To do this, subtract #2x# from both sides:

#cancel(2x-2x)+y=4-2x#

#y=4-2x#

To find the perpendicular slope or #m_|_# we first must find the slope of the equation given: The slope is the number that is next to the variable and not the constant. The slope(#m#) in this case is #-2#

To find the perpendicular slope algebraically, we use the following: #m_|_=-1/m# because it is the negative reciprocal of the original slope. We then plug in #-2# for #m#:

#m_|_=-1/-2=1/2#

#:. # the perpendicular slope is #1/2#

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