GMAT Math : Calculating whether lines are perpendicular

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

Create An Account

All GMAT Math Resources

22 Diagnostic Tests 693 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #391 : Geometry

Which of the following lines is perpendicular to $y=\frac{3}{4}x+16$ ?

Possible Answers:

$y=\frac{4}{3}x+8$

$y=-\frac{4}{3}x+12$

Not enough information provided.

$y=\frac{3}{4}x-6$

$y=\frac{3}{4}x+7$

Correct answer:

$y=-\frac{4}{3}x+12$

Explanation:

Given a line defined by the equation y=mx+b with a slope of , any line perpendicular to would have a slope that is the negative reciprocal of , $-\frac{1}{m}$ . Given our equation $y=\frac{3}{4}x+16$ , we know that $m=\frac{3}{4}$ and that $-\frac{1}{m}=-\frac{1}{\frac{3}{4}}=-\frac{4}{3}$ .

The only answer choice with this slope is $y=-\frac{4}{3}x+12$ .

Report an Error

Example Question #632 : Problem Solving Questions

Which of the following lines is perpendicular to y=5x-12

Possible Answers:

$y=-\frac{1}{5}x+7$

Two of the answers are correct.

$y=\frac{1}{5}x+19$

$y=-\frac{1}{5}x-4$

$y=\frac{1}{5}x-6$

Correct answer:

Two of the answers are correct.

Explanation:

Given a line defined by the equation y=mx+b with a slope of , any line perpendicular to would have a slope that is the negative reciprocal of , $-\frac{1}{m}$ . Given our equation y=5x-12 , we know that m=5 and that $-\frac{1}{m}=-\frac{1}{5}$ .

There are two answer choices with this slope, $y=-\frac{1}{5}x-4$ and $y=-\frac{1}{5}x+7$ .

Report an Error

Example Question #391 : Geometry

A given line is defined by the equation y=2x+5 . Which of the following lines would be perpendicular to line ?

Possible Answers:

Not enough information provided

y=-2x+7

$y=-\frac{1}{2}x+7$

y=2x+14

$y=\frac{1}{2}x+7$

Correct answer:

$y=-\frac{1}{2}x+7$

Explanation:

For any line with an equation y=mx+b and slope , a line that is perpendicular to must have a slope of $-\frac{1}{m}$ , or the negative reciprocal of . Given y=2x+5 , we know that m=2 and therefore know that $-\frac{1}{m}=-\frac{1}{2}$ .

Only one equation above has a slope of $-\frac{1}{2}$ : $y=-\frac{1}{2}x+7$ .

Report an Error

Example Question #14 : Lines

What is the slope of a line that is perpendicular to $y=-\frac{1}{7}x+9$

Possible Answers:

$\frac{1}{9}$

$-\frac{1}{9}$

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For any line with an equation y=mx+b and slope , a line that is perpendicular to must have a slope of $-\frac{1}{m}$ , or the negative reciprocal of . Given the equation $y=-\frac{1}{7}x+9$ , we know that $m=-\frac{1}{7}$ and therefore know that $-\frac{1}{m}=-\frac{1}{-\frac{1}{7}}=7$ .

Report an Error

Example Question #11 : Lines

Which of the following lines is perpendicular to y=4x+8 ?

Possible Answers:

$y=-\frac{1}{4}x-4$

$y=-\frac{1}{4}x+5$

$y=4x-\frac{1}{8}$

Two lines are perpendicular

None of the lines is perpendicular

Correct answer:

Two lines are perpendicular

Explanation:

For any line with an equation y=mx+b and slope , a line that is perpendicular to must have a slope of $-\frac{1}{m}$ , or the negative reciprocal of . Given the equation y=4x+8 , we know that m=4 and therefore know that $-\frac{1}{m}=-\frac{1}{4}$ .

Given a slope of $-\frac{1}{4}$ , we know that there are two solutions provided: $y=-\frac{1}{4}x+5$ and $y=-\frac{1}{4}x-4$ .

Report an Error

Example Question #633 : Problem Solving Questions

What is the slope of a line perpendicular to that of 6y-3x=2?

Possible Answers:

$\frac{-1}{2}$

$\frac{1]}{2}$

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, we need to rearrange the equation into slope-intercept form. y=mx+b .

$6y-3x=2->y=\frac{3x+2}{6}.$ Therefore, the slope of this line equals $\frac{1}{2}.$ Perpendicular lines have slope that are the opposite reciprocal, or -2.

Report an Error

All GMAT Math Resources

22 Diagnostic Tests 693 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Popular Subjects

Chemistry Tutors in Philadelphia, Physics Tutors in Dallas Fort Worth, LSAT Tutors in Philadelphia, GRE Tutors in Atlanta, ISEE Tutors in Phoenix, Computer Science Tutors in Boston, Computer Science Tutors in San Diego, Chemistry Tutors in Denver, Algebra Tutors in Dallas Fort Worth, English Tutors in Boston

Popular Courses & Classes

SSAT Courses & Classes in Atlanta, MCAT Courses & Classes in Miami, ISEE Courses & Classes in Seattle, SSAT Courses & Classes in Houston, ISEE Courses & Classes in Chicago, SSAT Courses & Classes in Seattle, GRE Courses & Classes in Seattle, MCAT Courses & Classes in Washington DC, MCAT Courses & Classes in San Diego, GRE Courses & Classes in Los Angeles

Popular Test Prep

GMAT Test Prep in Dallas Fort Worth, SSAT Test Prep in Atlanta, ISEE Test Prep in Miami, LSAT Test Prep in Atlanta, GRE Test Prep in Boston, GMAT Test Prep in Seattle, GRE Test Prep in San Francisco-Bay Area, GRE Test Prep in New York City, LSAT Test Prep in Phoenix, LSAT Test Prep in Denver

DMCA Complaint

If you believe that content available by means of the Website (as defined in our Terms of Service) infringes one or more of your copyrights, please notify us by providing a written notice (“Infringement Notice”) containing the information described below to the designated agent listed below. If Varsity Tutors takes action in response to an Infringement Notice, it will make a good faith attempt to contact the party that made such content available by means of the most recent email address, if any, provided by such party to Varsity Tutors.

Your Infringement Notice may be forwarded to the party that made the content available or to third parties such as ChillingEffects.org.

Please be advised that you will be liable for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) if you materially misrepresent that a product or activity is infringing your copyrights. Thus, if you are not sure content located on or linked-to by the Website infringes your copyright, you should consider first contacting an attorney.

Please follow these steps to file a notice:

You must include the following:

A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf; An identification of the copyright claimed to have been infringed; A description of the nature and exact location of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright, in \ sufficient detail to permit Varsity Tutors to find and positively identify that content; for example we require a link to the specific question (not just the name of the question) that contains the content and a description of which specific portion of the question – an image, a link, the text, etc – your complaint refers to; Your name, address, telephone number and email address; and A statement by you: (a) that you believe in good faith that the use of the content that you claim to infringe your copyright is not authorized by law, or by the copyright owner or such owner’s agent; (b) that all of the information contained in your Infringement Notice is accurate, and (c) under penalty of perjury, that you are either the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf.

Send your complaint to our designated agent at:

Charles Cohn Varsity Tutors LLC
101 S. Hanley Rd, Suite 300
St. Louis, MO 63105

Or fill out the form below:

Do not fill in this field

Contact Information

* Full legal name

Company name

* Phone number

* Email address

Address

* Address1

Address2

* City

* State

* Zipcode

* Country

Complaint Details

* URL of copyrighted work (where your original material is located)

* Please describe the copyrighted work so that it may be easily identified

I am the owner, or an agent authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed.

I have a good faith belief that the use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.

This notification is accurate.

I acknowledge that there may be adverse legal consequences for making false or bad faith allegations of copyright infringement by using this process.

* Signature (your digital signature is legally binding)

Email address:
Your name:
Feedback:

GMAT Math : Calculating whether lines are perpendicular

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

All GMAT Math Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #391 : Geometry

Example Question #632 : Problem Solving Questions

Example Question #391 : Geometry

Example Question #14 : Lines

Example Question #11 : Lines

Example Question #633 : Problem Solving Questions

All GMAT Math Resources

Report an issue with this question

DMCA Complaint

Contact Information

Address

Complaint Details