AlgebraEasy–MediumSlope of a perpendicular line
Algebra practice question
In the xy-plane, line q is perpendicular to the graph of 7x − 2y = 8. What is the slope of line q?
- A. −2/7Correct
- B. 7/2
- C. 2/7
- D. −7/2
Answer: A. −2/7
The given graph has slope 7/2 (solve for y: y = (7/2)x − 4). A perpendicular line's slope is the negative reciprocal: −2/7.
Why the other answers are wrong
- B. 7/2
- 7/2 is the slope of the given line itself, not of a perpendicular line.
- C. 2/7
- 2/7 is the reciprocal but keeps the sign; perpendicular slopes multiply to −1.
- D. −7/2
- −7/2 flips the sign but not the fraction; take the negative reciprocal of 7/2.
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