We are open Saturday and Sunday!

Call Now to Set Up Tutoring:

(888) 888-0446

PSAT Math : How to find the equation of a perpendicular line

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Math

Create An Account

All PSAT Math Resources

10 Diagnostic Tests 421 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Equation Of A Perpendicular Line

If a line has an equation of $2y=3x+3$ , what is the slope of a line that is perpendicular to the line?

Possible Answers:

$-\frac{3}{2}$

$\frac{3}{2}$

$-2$

$-\frac{2}{3}$

$3$

Correct answer:

$-\frac{2}{3}$

Explanation:

Putting the first equation in slope-intercept form yields $y=\frac{3}{2}x+\frac{3}{2}$ .

A perpendicular line has a slope that is the negative inverse. In this case, $-\frac{2}{3}$ .

Report an Error

Example Question #51 : Algebra

Which of the following equations represents a line that goes through the point (-2, 6) and is perpendicular to the line 3x + 6y = 12 ?

Possible Answers:

y = -2x + 2

y = -2x + 10

y = 2x + 2

y = 2x + 10

y = 2x + 6

Correct answer:

y = 2x + 10

Explanation:

In order to solve this problem, we need first to transform the equation from standard form to slope-intercept form:

y = mx + b

Transform the original equation to find its slope.

3x + 6y = 12

First, subtract from both sides of the equation.

3x-3x + 6y = 12-3x

Simplify and rearrange.

6y = -3x + 12

Next, divide both sides of the equation by 6.

$\frac{6y}{6} = -\frac{3x}{6} + \frac{12}{6}$

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

The slope of our first line is equal to $-\frac{1}{2}$ . Perpendicular lines have slopes that are opposite reciprocals of each other; therefore, if the slope of one is x, then the slope of the other is equal to the following:

$-\frac{1}{x}$

Let's calculate the opposite reciprocal of our slope:

$-\frac{1}{2}\rightarrow -\left (-\frac{2}{1} \right )=2$

The slope of our line is equal to 2. We now have the following partial equation:

y = 2x + b

We are missing the y-intercept, . Substitute the x- and y-values in the given point (-2, 6) to solve for the missing y-intercept.

6 = 2(-2) + b

6 = -4 + b

Add 4 to both sides of the equation.

6+4 = -4+4 + b

10 = b

Substitute this value into our partial equation to construct the equation of our line:

y = 2x + 10

Report an Error

View PSAT Mathematics Tutors

Dejuan
Certified Tutor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering.

View PSAT Mathematics Tutors

Leonard
Certified Tutor

Florida State University, Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science.

View PSAT Mathematics Tutors

Mohammad
Certified Tutor

Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Bachelor of Science, Mathematics. Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Master of Science, Stat...

All PSAT Math Resources

10 Diagnostic Tests 421 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Popular Subjects

Math Tutors in Washington DC, Reading Tutors in Boston, Math Tutors in Houston, GMAT Tutors in Seattle, SSAT Tutors in New York City, Math Tutors in Los Angeles, ACT Tutors in Atlanta, Calculus Tutors in Dallas Fort Worth, Physics Tutors in Atlanta, Computer Science Tutors in New York City

Popular Courses & Classes

LSAT Courses & Classes in Boston, GMAT Courses & Classes in Atlanta, ACT Courses & Classes in New York City, LSAT Courses & Classes in Philadelphia, SAT Courses & Classes in Miami, GRE Courses & Classes in Washington DC, MCAT Courses & Classes in Phoenix, SSAT Courses & Classes in Atlanta, ISEE Courses & Classes in Seattle, GRE Courses & Classes in Chicago

Popular Test Prep

ISEE Test Prep in Houston, ACT Test Prep in New York City, GMAT Test Prep in Houston, SAT Test Prep in Houston, GMAT Test Prep in Atlanta, GRE Test Prep in Phoenix, GRE Test Prep in Philadelphia, GRE Test Prep in Los Angeles, MCAT Test Prep in Phoenix, GMAT Test Prep in Boston

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)

HIGH SCHOOL

GRADUATE SCHOOL

K-8

Search 50+ Tests

math tutoring

science tutoring

foreign languages

elementary tutoring

other

Search 350+ Subjects

PSAT Math : How to find the equation of a perpendicular line

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Math

All PSAT Math Resources

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Equation Of A Perpendicular Line

Example Question #51 : Algebra

All PSAT Math Resources

Report an issue with this question

DMCA Complaint

Contact Information

Address

Complaint Details

Email address:
Your name:
Feedback: