Question

Find the equation of the line passing through the point (4,6) and perpendicular to the line y = (3/2)x + 5.  Write your answer in general form.  Do not use any space between the letter (lower case), symbol and number, say x+y-1=0

Answer 1

When two lines are perpendicular, the product of their gradients is -@. Therefore the gradient of the line we need is -⅔. This is the x coefficient, so we have y=-⅔x+a where a is the y intercept.

Plug in the point (4,6): 6=-⅔×4+a, 6+8/3=a and a=26/3. So y=-⅔x+26/3=⅔(13-x).

Get rid of the fraction and we have 3y=2(13-x)=26-2x. In general form this is: 2x+3y-26=0.

Answer 2

What is equation of the line that passes through the point (6,8) and is perpendicular to a line with equation y=3/2x+5?