Question

What is the slope of a line perpendicular to the line whose equation is 2x+2y=28

Answer 1

Answer:

1

Step-by-step explanation:

1) First, place the given equation in slope-intercept form ($y = mx +b$ format) to find its slope easier. Isolate the y:

$2x + 2y = 28\\2y = -2x + 28\\y = -x+14$

So, the equation of the line in slope-intercept form is $y = -x + 14$. When an equation is in slope-intercept form, the $m$, or the coefficient of the x-term, represents the slope. Thus, the slope for the given line would be -1.

2) Lines that are perpendicular have slopes that are opposite reciprocals of each other. We need to find the opposite reciprocal of -1, then.

To find the opposite reciprocal of a number, write the given number as a fraction first -- making -1 be written as   $-\frac{1}{1}$ -- then switch the sign and flip the numerator and denominator. So, the opposite reciprocal of -1 is 1, and 1 is the slope of the perpendicular line.