What is the slope of any line perpendicular to the line passing through #(16,6)# and #(-2,-13)#?

1 Answer
Serena D.
Apr 3, 2018

#-18/19#

Explanation:

Let's first find the slope of the line passing through the aforementioned points

#(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1) rarr# Finding a slope via two points formula

#(-13-6)/(-2-16) rarr# Plug in the points

#(-19)/-18#

#19/18 rarr# This is the slope of the line

Perpendicular slopes are opposite reciprocals of each other

To make something the opposite of another number, add a negative sign in front of it (a positive number's opposite will be negative, a negative number's opposite will be positive)

To find the reciprocal of a number, switch the numerator and denominator

#19/18#

#-19/18 rarr# The opposite

#-18/19 rarr# The (opposite) reciprocal

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