What is the slope of the line perpendicular to y=-5/3-6 ?

2 Answers
Jan 13, 2018

As asked y=-5/3-6=-23/6 is a horizontal line; any line perpendicular to it would be vertical and thus have an undefined slope.
If the intended equation was y=-5/3color(blue)x-6
see below.

Explanation:

Any equation in the form y=color(green)mx+b is in slope-intercept form with a slope of color(green)m

If a line has a slope of color(green)m
then all lines perpendicular to it have a slope of -(1/color(green)m)

If the equation was intended to be
color(white)("XXX")y=color(green)(-5/3)x-6
then all lines perpendicular to it will have a slope:
color(white)("XXX")-(1/(color(green)(-5/3)))=color(magenta)(3/5)

Jan 13, 2018

"slope "=3/5

Explanation:

"assuming "y=-5/3x-6" is meant"

"the equation of a line in "color(blue)"slope-intercept form" is.

•color(white)(x)y=mx+b

"where m is the slope and b the y-intercept"

y=-5/3x-6" is in this form with "m=-5/3

"given a line with slope m then the slope of a line"
"perpendicular to it is"

•color(white)(x)m_(color(red)"perpendicular")=-1/m

rArrm_(color(red)"perpendicular")=-1/(-5/3)=3/5