16Hit1600
AlgebraHardSlope of a line reflected across the x-axis

Algebra practice question

In the xy-plane, line ℓ has the equation y = (3/4)x + 2. Line m is the reflection of line ℓ across the x-axis. What is the slope of line m?

Answer: -3/4 or -0.75

Reflecting across the x-axis replaces y with −y: −y = (3/4)x + 2, so y = −(3/4)x − 2 and the slope is −3/4.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 3/4
3/4 leaves the slope unchanged, as a reflection across the y-axis would not either; only the sign flips here.
If you answered -4/3
−4/3 is the slope of a perpendicular line.
If you answered 4/3
4/3 inverts without flipping the sign.

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