Question

Consider the line 3x-2y=4 . what is the slope of a line perpendicular to this line? what is the slope of a line parallel to this line?

Answer 1

Assuming the equation is 3x-2y+4=0 then the equation of the line, solving for y in terms of x, gives y=3/2x+2 the slope of this line is 3/2 then the slope of a line that is perpendicular is -2/3 .An easy way to see this is to draw the line. By definition the slope, m=tan(α) where α is the angle the line makes with the x axis. Let L=slope of the perpendicular line then L=tan(β) but the two lines with the x axis form a right triangle hence α+π-β=π/2 so β=π/2+α and L=tan(β)=tan(π/2+α)=-cot(α) = -1/tan(α)=-1/m.In our problem m=3/2 so L=-2/3.The geometry becomes clear if you make a sketch of the two lines. Hope this helps