Writing an Equation in Slope Intercept Form

Question

passes through (-8,1) and is perpendicular to y=2x-7

Answer 1

Abby, remember that slope-intercept form looks like y = mx + b. m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.

 

The line you have has a slope of 2.  To be perpendicular, the slope is the opposite reciprocal, or -1/2.

 

We have m.  To find b, we need to plug in the info we have into y = mx + b.

 

1 = -1/2(-8) + b

 

1 = 4 + b

 

b = -3

 

So, our equation is y = -1/2x -3

 

Let's check. 1 = -1/2(-8) - 3.  1 = 4 - 3. 1 = 1.  Check!