Question

Select the correct answer.

Which equation represents the line that is perpendicular to y=1/5 and passes through (-4,-3)?

A. x= -4
B. x= -3
C. y= -5
D. y= -3

Answer 1

The required line's equation is x=-4. Option A.

Explanation:

This is more conceptual than a numerical problem.

We have the line y=1/5 and want to find a perpendicular line that passes through (4,-3).

The line y=1/5 is a horizontal line with slope 0. The perpendicular line would have an infinity slope and it would make it impossible to use the regular procedure to find it.

Instead, we realize that a perpendicular line to a horizontal line is a vertical line.

All vertical lines have the equation x = h, where h is the x-component of the point it passes through.

Now we only have to see the x-component of the point (-4,-3) and write our solution:

The required line's equation is x=-4. Option A.