line equation

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line equation

by engg.manik » Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:52 am
7.Given a line equation 3x - 2y = 34. What is the equation of the line perpendicular to the given line and passing through (0, 0)?
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by mp2437 » Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:06 am
Not sure if the symbol is a minus or plus sign, but regardless, just solve for y in terms of x to have the form y = mx + b. A line perpendicular to it will have a slope that is the negative reciprocal of your line.

So, say the line you gave (I'm assuming) is 3x - 2y = 34. The slope "m" is y = mx + b = (3x - 34)/2 = 3/2*x - 17, so slope = 3/2. Perpendicular line will have slope that is negative reciprocal, so it will be -1 / (3/2) = -2/3. so y = mx + b, so y = (-2/3)x + b. We know it passes through the point (0,0), so your y-intercept is 0.

The line should be y = -(2/3)x.

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Re: line equation

by maihuna » Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:26 am
engg.manik wrote:7.Given a line equation 3x - 2y = 34. What is the equation of the line perpendicular to the given line and passing through (0, 0)?
Engg Malik,
slope of 3x-2y = 34 is: 3/2

since Perp lines is m then m*3/2 = -1 (using m1m2=-1)
m = -2/3

a line with slope m passing through 00 is y=mx = -2/3x
or 3x+2y =0
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