Question Bank / Math / Linear Equations in Two Variables

Linear equations in two variables SAT question

Math · Algebra · Medium · Answer it here, explanation included.

Line is defined by . Line is perpendicular to line in the xy-plane. What is the slope of line ?

ExplanationShow

Choice C is correct. It’s given that line is perpendicular to line in the xy-plane. This means that the slope of line is the negative reciprocal of the slope of line . If the equation for line is rewritten in slope-intercept form , where and are constants, then is the slope of the line and is its y-intercept. Subtracting from both sides of the equation  yields . Dividing both sides of this equation by yields . It follows that the slope of line is . The negative reciprocal of a number is divided by the number. Therefore, the negative reciprocal of is , or . Thus, the slope of line is .

Choice A is incorrect. This is the slope of line , not line .

Choice B is incorrect. This is the reciprocal, not the negative reciprocal, of the slope of line .

Choice D is incorrect. This is the negative, not the negative reciprocal, of the slope of line .

Drill this skill on Aceit

Adaptive practice, a daily plan, and score tracking take a free account so we can save your work.

Practice this skill

More Linear equations in two variables questions