16Hit1600
AlgebraHardSlope constant for perpendicular lines

Algebra practice question

In the xy-plane, the lines y = 2x + 1 and y = kx + 5 are perpendicular. What is the value of k?

Answer: -1/2 or -.5 or -0.5

Perpendicular slopes multiply to −1, so 2k = −1 and k = −1/2.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 2
2 would make the lines parallel.
If you answered 1/2
1/2 has the sign wrong.
If you answered -2
−2 changes the sign but does not invert.

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