Using the Slope Formula With Perpendicular Lines

  • Draw two perpendicular lines. Use the slope formula to demonstrate that their slops are negative reciprocals.

m=\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x}= \frac{y_{2}-y_{1}}{x_{2}-x{1}}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

line 1:

m=\frac{3-1}{0-(-2)}= \frac{2}{2}=1

line 2:

m=\frac{-1-1}{0-(-2)}= \frac{-2}{2}=-1

m\Rightarrow\ -\frac{1}{m}

-\frac{1}{1}=-1