How to find the slope of perpendicular lines - SSAT Upper Level Quantitative

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Question

What is the slope of any line perpendicular to 2_y_ = 4_x_ +3 ?

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Answer

First, we must solve the equation for y to determine the slope: y = 2_x_ + 3/2

By looking at the coefficient in front of x, we know that the slope of this line has a value of 2. To fine the slope of any line perpendicular to this one, we take the negative reciprocal of it:

slope = m , perpendicular slope = – 1/m

slope = 2 , perpendicular slope = – 1/2

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