math question for geometry

Question

Write the equation of a line perpendicular to y = 1/3x - 9 that passes through the points (-6, 10).

Answer 1

Hello, Dylan,

The equation y = 1/3x - 9 is written is standard form, so the slope of the line is1/3. A perpendicular line has a slope that has the negative inverse of this slope, or -3.

The new line is y = -3x + b

We don't know the value of b yet of the new line, but we will soon.

The point (-6, 10) is on this line, so let's enter those values for x and y to calculate b.

10 = -3(-6) + b

b = -8

y = 3x - 8

Bob