What is the slope of the line perpendicular to y=1/4x + 12

Question

Can you show us how to do this?

Answer 1

To find the slope of the line perpendicular to another, we take the negative reciprocal of the slope. In y=mx + b form, m represents the slope in the equation of a line.

 

The slope of the line perpendicular to y=(1/4)x + 12 is  -4

Answer 2

Think about what it means for two lines to be perpendicular....draw a set of perpendicular lines and compare the rise and run of each. Note that if one slope is positive, the other must be negative.  Also qualitatively if one slope is steep the other will be shallow.  This should give you intuition for the formula. (For two perpendicular slopes m1 and m2, m1=-1/m2) 

 

is that enough to get you your answer?