Question

If y = mx + b is the equation of a line perpendicular to the line y = 5x - 2, what is the value of m?

Answer 1

The slope, m, of a line perpendicular to y = 5x - 2 is -1/5.

Answer 2

m =
`-(1)/(5)`

Explanation:

If y = mx + b is the equation of a line perpendicular to the line y = 5x - 2,

we need to find the value of m

Given equation is
`y = 5x - 2`

Lets find out the slope from the given equation, slope is the number attached with x

slope of the given line = 5

Slope of the perpendicular line = negative reciprocal of the slope of the given line

negative reciprocal of 5 is
`-(1)/(5)`

Slope is the value of m

So the value of m =
`-(1)/(5)`