Question

What is the slope of a line perpendicular to this line? Y=-1/4x+5

Answer 1

Answer:

4

Step-by-step explanation:

Two perpendicular lines must have a slope that multiplies to -1. With this in mind, we take the slope from the given equation, -1/4, and add multiply it by a variable new slope, z. We get the equation -1=-1/4z

Working it out:

-1=-1/4z

-1/-1/4=-1/4z/-1/4 (The two -1/4's on the right cancel out, leaving us with just z on the right side. -1 divided by -1/4 is equal to 4)

4=z

The slope of your line perpendicular to the given line is 4.

A trick for me to remember this is the answer for a perpendicular slope is the negative reciprocal. Add a negative sign to the number and flip it. It will never be wrong if worked out correctly. I can help you with this strategy more if you ask.