Problema Solution

Find the equation for the line that passes through the point (0,-5) and that is perpendicular to the line with the equation y+1=-3(x+2)

Answer provided by our tutors

First, lets write the equation y+1=-3(x+2) in "slope-intercept" form


y+1=-3(x+2)


y = -3x - 6 - 1


y = -3x - 7


has slope m1 = -3


let y = m2 x + b, where m2 is the slope and b gives the y-intercept


be the equation of a line that is perpendicular to the line with the equation y+1=-3(x+2) thus


m2*m1 = -1 since the lines are perpendicular


m2 = -1/m1


m2 = -1/(-3)


m2 = 1/3


y = x/3 + b


now the only thing left to find is b


since y = x/3 + b passes through the point (0,-5) we have


-5 = 0/3 + b


b = -5


the equation of the line that we are looking for is


y = x/3 - 5.