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

1 Answer
May 27, 2017

y=x-6

Explanation:

We can find the gradient of a perpendicular line by the negative inverse of the first line's gradient. So, as the gradient of the line you are given is -1, the gradient (m) of a line perpendicular to it would be -1/(-1) which is -(-1) = 1

To find the equation of any line, we can use the formula
y-y_1 = m(x-x_1) where y_1 and x_1 are coordinates the line passes through.
Let's sub in our values - m=1, x_1 = 5 (from the coordinates) and y_1 = -1
So, y-(-1)=1(x-5)
y+1 = x-5
y=x-6

Hope this helped; let me know if I can do anything else:)