What is the equation of the line perpendicular to y=-7/8x that passes through (-5,1) ?

1 Answer
Nov 28, 2015

y=8/7x+6 5/7
Looks a lot in the explanation. This is because I have explained in a lot of detail what is happening. Standard calculations would not do that!

Explanation:

The standared equation of a straight line graph is:

color(brown)(y_1=mx_1+c)

Where m is the gradient (slope) Let this first gradient be m_1

Any slope that is perpendicular to this line has the gradient of:

color(blue)(-1xx1/m_1)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Comment ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have done it this way to help with signs. Suppose that m is negative. Then the perpendicular would have the gradient of :

(-1xx1/(-m_1)) This would give you: +1/m_1
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color(brown)("To find the gradient of the perpendicular")
Given: y_1=-7/8 x_1 .........................................(1)

Let the gradient of the line perpendicular be m_2

color(green)(m_2)=color(blue)(-1xx1/m_1)=-1xx(-8/7) = color(green)( +8/7)

So the equation of the perpendicular line is:

color(blue)(y_2=color(green)(8/7)x_2+c)............................(2)
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color(brown)("To find the value of c")

This new line passes through (x_2,y_2) -> (-5,1)

So
y_2=1
x_2=(-5)

Substitute these into (2) giving:

1=(8/7)(-5)+c

color(brown)(1=-40/7+c) .......Watch those signs!

color(white)(..xxx.) .......................................................
color(white)(..xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.)

Add color(blue)(40/7) to both sides to 'get rid of it' on the right

color(brown)(1 color(blue)(+40/7)=(-40/7color(blue)(+40/7))+c)

But 1+40/4 =47/7 and +40/7-40/7=0 giving:

47/7=0+c

Socolor(white)(...) color(green)(c)=47/7 = color(green)(6 5/7)
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So
color(blue)(y_2=8/7x_2+c)

Becomes:
color(blue)(y_2=8/7x_2+color(green)(6 5/7))