How to find the equation of a line.

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by domini212, Sep 23, 2008.

  1. domini212

    domini212 Level III

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    perpendicular/parallel to another line. Line (L) has the equation X+2y=5

    A) Write the equation of a line parallel to (L) that passes through the point (-1,2)

    B) Write the equation of a line perpendicular to (L) that passes through the point (-1,2)
     
  2. Belaarx

    Belaarx Level I

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    Slope = -1/2
    A ) There is a couple different ways to do this, point slope form:
    y - 2 = -1/2(x + 1)
    y - 2 = -1/2x + 0.5
    y = -1/2x + 2.5


    For the second problem, i forget how to do perpendicular :-/
     
  3. mjnskivt

    mjnskivt Level III

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    Location:
    right behind you
    first, solve first equation for y: y=(-1/2)x+5
    slope of this line is -1/2. parallel lines have identical slopes, so any line with same slope will do.
    But your line needs to pass through -1,2 so plug these in for the x and y variables and solve for the y intercept.
    ex. 2=(-1/2)*-1+b
    2-b=(-1/2)*-1
    2-b=1/2
    -b=(1/2)-2
    b=3/2
    then plug into original equation again: y=(-1/2)x+(3/2)

    perpendicular lines have negative inverse slopes. the negative inverse of -1/2 is 2, so any line with a slope of 2 will do.
    But your line needs to pass through -1,2 so plug these in for the x and y variables and solve for the y intercept.
    ex. 2=2*-1+b
    2-b=-2
    -b=-4
    b=4
    then plug into original equation again: y=2x+4

    Hope that helps :)
     
  4. Nyamavu

    Nyamavu Level I

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    Location:
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    Original Equation: y=-1/2x+5/2
    Parallel: y=-1/2x+3/2
    Perp: y=2x+4

    The way to find parallel is to solve the original equation and get the slope (-1/2) and then plug in for M into the equation: (y-y1)=Mx(x-x1) then just plug in the points (x1,y1) (in this case its (-1,2)) and solve.
    For Perp, it is the same thing, but you flip your original slope and change the sign.
     
  5. Dusk412

    Dusk412 Level I

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    Remember parallel lines have identical slopes and perpendicular lines have opposite reciprocal slopes (meaning opposite sign and flip the fraction).

    Opposite Reciprocal Example:
    1/3 -> -3
    6/7 -> -7/6
    -7 -> 1/7

    Hope that helps :D.