Answer:
m = -1/2 and b = 6.5
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the slope of the original line segment, we have to do the change in y/the change in x:
(4-8)/(-5--3) = -4/-2 = 2
2 is the slope of the original line segment, but since this is the perpendicular bisector, we have to take the negative reciprocal of 2 so m = -1/2
To find b we substitute the values of x, y, and m into the equation. Let's use the x value of -3 and the y value of 8:
y = mx + b
8 = -1/2(-3) + b
8 = 3/2 + b
6.5 = b
