Question

Find an equation for the perpendicular bisector of the line segment whose endpoints

are (-7,-3) and (1, -7).

Answer 1

first find the slope of the line

slope =y2 - y1 / x2 - x 1 = -7+3/1+7 = -4/8 = -1/2

the slope of a perpendicular line is the negative reciprocal.

slope of bisector = 2

the line will be of the form y = 2x + b where b is a constant.

the line will pass through point (-3,-5)

this is because that is the x is in the middle of the x coordinates and the y is in the middle of the y coordinates.

plugging in the point into the equation:

-5 = -6 + b

b = 1

therefore, the equation is y= 2x + 1