Lines a and b are perpendicular, the slope of line a is given below. What is the slope of line b? (A) 3 (B) 3/4 (C) -2 (D) -5/2 (E) -1/2 (F) 2/5 (G) 1

1 Answer
Math Tutor
Jun 20, 2018

A) #-1/3#

B) #-4/3#

C) #1/2#

D) #2/5#

E) #2#

F) #5/2#

G) #-1#

Explanation:

The slopes of 2 perpendicular lines are related in that:
#m_1 * m_2 = -1#

So, if you know one slope, #m_1#, then the other slope, #m_2#, is the negative reciprocal of #m_1#:
#m_2 = -1/m_1#

A) If #m_1 = 3#, then: #m_2 = -1/3#
B) If #m_1 = 3/4#, then: #m_2 = -4/3#
C) If #m_1 = -2#, then: #m_2 = 1/2#
D) If #m_1 = -5/2#, then: #m_2 = 2/5#
E) If #m_1 = -1/2#, then: #m_2 = 2#
F) If #m_1 = 2/5#, then: #m_2 = 5/2#
G) If #m_1 = 1#, then: #m_2 = -1#

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