What is the slope of any line perpendicular to the line passing through #(12,-2)# and #(7,8)#?

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Answer 1 · 2016-03-28T14:28:18

#m = 1/2#

The slope a line that is perpendicular to a given line would be the inverse slope of the given line

#m = a/b# the perpendicular slope would be #m =-b/a#

The formula for the slope of a line based upon two coordinate points is

#m = (y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1)#

For the coordinate points #(12,-2) and (7,8)#
#x_1 = 12#
#x_2 = 7#
#y_1 = -2#
#y_2 = 8#

#m = (8-(-2))/(7-12)#

#m = 10/-5#

The slope is #m = -10/5 = -2/1#
the perpendicular slope would be the reciprocal (-1/m)
#m = 1/2#