Find Equation of Line Perpendicular to x+y=0 Through (1,3)

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In summary, the conversation is about finding the equations of lines passing through (1,3) and perpendicular to the line x+y=0. The formula m_1 m_2=-1 is used to find the slopes of perpendicular lines, and the point-slope equation y-y_1=m(x-x_1) can be used to find the equation of the line. Example equations are given and the conversation ends with a suggestion to graph the equation to check its accuracy.
  • #1
duki
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Hey guys, first week in Calc here. I need help with a problem.

It says to find the equations of the lines passing through (1,3) and having the following characteristics:

(the one I'm stuck on) perpendicular to the line x + y = 0

Could someone give me a hand? Maybe which formula to use?
 
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  • #2
[tex]x+y=0[/tex]

Solve for y. Lines perpendicular to the one you will solve for have different slopes and can be found with the equation [tex]m_1 m_2=-1[/tex]

Point-slope equation ...

[tex]y-y_1=m(x-x_1)[/tex]

You should know these by heart.
 
  • #3
apologies for my ignorance, but I don't understand what you mean by the first part. Could you give me an example?
 
  • #4
Well I'm positive you can solve for y, so that's not what you're asking about.

Lines that are perpendicular to one another have different slopes. Their slopes can be found with the equation [tex]m_1 m_2=-1[/tex]

[tex]y=-x[/tex]

So [tex]m_1=-1[/tex]

To find the slope of a line that is perpendicular to x+y=0, we just need to figure out what [tex]m_2[/tex] is.
 
  • #5
so [tex]y - 3 = -1 ( x - 1 ) [/tex]?
 
  • #6
[tex]m_1=-1[/tex] is the slope to your first line. They want the line perpendicular to that ... re-read what I wrote.
 
  • #7
oops, so [tex]y - 3 = 1 ( x - 1 ) [/tex] ?
 
  • #8
duki said:
oops, so [tex]y - 3 = 1 ( x - 1 ) [/tex] ?
If that's the slope you found, yes.

You can check it by graphing it.
 

FAQ: Find Equation of Line Perpendicular to x+y=0 Through (1,3)

What is the equation of a line perpendicular to x+y=0 through the point (1,3)?

The equation of a line perpendicular to x+y=0 through the point (1,3) is y = -x + 4.

How do I find the slope of a line perpendicular to x+y=0?

The slope of a line perpendicular to x+y=0 is the negative reciprocal of the slope of the original line. In this case, the slope is -1.

What is the general form of an equation of a perpendicular line?

The general form of an equation of a perpendicular line is y = mx + b, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept. In this case, the equation is y = -x + b.

How do I find the y-intercept of a line perpendicular to x+y=0 through the point (1,3)?

To find the y-intercept of a line perpendicular to x+y=0 through the point (1,3), you can substitute the coordinates into the general form of the equation (y = mx + b) and solve for b. In this case, b = 4.

Can a line be perpendicular to itself?

No, a line cannot be perpendicular to itself. In order for two lines to be perpendicular, they must intersect at a right angle, which is not possible for a single line.

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