Question

Need some help! Graph the equations y=3x-5 and x+3y=6 on the same xy-plane. What is significant about these two lines? (Explain your answer)
Thanks!

Answer 1

To solve this, we must first put both lines in Slope Intercept Form (y=mx+b where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept).

y=3x-5 is already in SIF, so we only need to work on the other one.

 x+3y=6
-x       -x
 3y=-x+6
 /3      /3
 y=-1/3x+2

Now we have both equations in slope intercept form, so we can start graphing from the y-intercepts and just follow the slopes.

When we do this, we will see that the lines meet at an exactly 90° angle. When a pair of lines does this, it means they are perpendicular.

Below I have attached an image that has both lines graphed so that you may visualize it. The green dots show the slopes, while the highlighted areas show the y-intercepts. Note that the lines intersect at a 90° angle, making them perpendicular.