Subjects algebra

Perpendicular Slope Ca3E01

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Question: What is the slope of a line perpendicular to $2x-4y=7$
1. **State the problem:** We need to find the slope of a line perpendicular to the line given by the equation $$2x - 4y = 7$$. 2. **Rewrite the equation in slope-intercept form:** The slope-intercept form is $$y = mx + b$$, where $$m$$ is the slope. Starting with $$2x - 4y = 7$$: $$-4y = -2x + 7$$ Divide both sides by $$-4$$: $$y = \frac{-2x + 7}{-4}$$ Simplify the fraction: $$y = \frac{-2x}{-4} + \frac{7}{-4} = \frac{1}{2}x - \frac{7}{4}$$ 3. **Identify the slope of the original line:** From the equation $$y = \frac{1}{2}x - \frac{7}{4}$$, the slope $$m = \frac{1}{2}$$. 4. **Find the slope of the perpendicular line:** The slope of a line perpendicular to another is the negative reciprocal of the original slope. The negative reciprocal of $$\frac{1}{2}$$ is $$-\frac{1}{\frac{1}{2}} = -2$$. **Final answer:** The slope of the line perpendicular to $$2x - 4y = 7$$ is $$-2$$.