Problema Solution

Write two equations for two perpendicular lines that have the same y-intercept and don't pass through the origin

Answer provided by our tutors

let the first line equation be


y = k1*x + b1


then the perpendicular line will be


y = k2*x + b2


we use the facts that 2 lines are perpendicular if the product of their slopes is -1


k1*k2 = - 1


if k1 = m then k2 = -1/m, for some m = constant. and m <> 0


b1 <> 0, b2<>0 otherwise the lines will pass through the origin (0, 0)


for x = 0 the lines have the same y-intercept that is


b1 = b2 = b


Thus the equations of the lines are


first line

y = m*x + b


second line

y = - x/m + b


where b <> 0, m <> 0.