Question

Find the equation of a line perpendicular to y - 12 = 2x – 8 that passes through the point (2, 3). (answer in slope-intercept form)

Answer 1

Answer:

$\displaystyle y=-\frac{1}{2}x+4$

Step-by-step explanation:

Equation of a Line

We can find the equation of a line by using two sets of data. It can be a pair of ordered pairs, or the slope and a point, or the slope and the y-intercept, or many other combinations of appropriate data.

We are given a line

$y - 12 = 2x -8$

And are required to find a line perpendicular to that line. Let's find the slope of the given line. Solving for y

$y = 2x +4$

The coefficient of the x is the slope

$m=2$

The slope of the perpendicular line is the negative reciprocal of m, thus

$\displaystyle m'=-\frac{1}{2}$

We know the second line passes through (2,3). That is enough information to find the second equation:

$y-y_o=m'(x-x_o)$

$\displaystyle y-3=-\frac{1}{2}(x-2)$

Operating

$\displaystyle y=-\frac{1}{2}(x-2)+3$

Simplifying

$\displaystyle y=-\frac{1}{2}x+4$

That is the equation in slope-intercept form. Intercept: y=4