How do you find the slope that is perpendicular to the line #y=1/3x+6#?

1 Answer
Jun 29, 2016

Slope: #color(red)(-3)#

Explanation:

If a line has a slope of #color(green)(m)#
then any line perpendicular to it has a slope of #color(red)(-1/m)#

Equations in the form:
#color(white)("XXX")y=color(green)(m)x+color(blue)(b)#
are in "slope-intercept form" with a slope of #color(green)(m)#

The given equation:
#color(white)("XXX")y=color(green)(1/3)x+color(blue)(6)#
is in this "slope-intercept form" with a slope of #color(green)(1/3)#

Any line perpendicular to it has a slope of
#color(white)("XXX")color(red)(-1/(""(1/3))=-3#