Pre-Algebra Examples

$y = 3 x - 1$ , $(- 5, 6)$

Step 1

Use the slope-intercept form to find the slope.

Tap for more steps...

Step 1.1

The slope-intercept form is $y = m x + b$ , where $m$ is the slope and $b$ is the y-intercept.

$y = m x + b$

Step 1.2

Using the slope-intercept form, the slope is $3$ .

$m = 3$

Step 2

The equation of a perpendicular line must have a slope that is the negative reciprocal of the original slope.

$m_{perpendicular} = - \frac{1}{3}$

Step 3

Find the equation of the perpendicular line using the point-slope formula.

Tap for more steps...

Step 3.1

Use the slope $- \frac{1}{3}$ and a given point $(- 5, 6)$ to substitute for $x_{1}$ and $y_{1}$ in the point-slope form $y - y_{1} = m (x - x_{1})$ , which is derived from the slope equation $m = \frac{y_{2} - y_{1}}{x_{2} - x_{1}}$ .

$y - (6) = - \frac{1}{3} \cdot (x - (- 5))$

Step 3.2

Simplify the equation and keep it in point-slope form.

$y - 6 = - \frac{1}{3} \cdot (x + 5)$

Step 4

Write in $y = m x + b$ form.

Tap for more steps...

Step 4.1

Solve for $y$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 4.1.1

Simplify $- \frac{1}{3} \cdot (x + 5)$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 4.1.1.1

Rewrite.

$y - 6 = 0 + 0 - \frac{1}{3} \cdot (x + 5)$

Step 4.1.1.2

Simplify by adding zeros.

$y - 6 = - \frac{1}{3} \cdot (x + 5)$

Step 4.1.1.3

Apply the distributive property.

$y - 6 = - \frac{1}{3} x - \frac{1}{3} \cdot 5$

Step 4.1.1.4

Combine $x$ and $\frac{1}{3}$ .

$y - 6 = - \frac{x}{3} - \frac{1}{3} \cdot 5$

Step 4.1.1.5

Multiply $- \frac{1}{3} \cdot 5$ .

Tap for more steps...

Step 4.1.1.5.1

Multiply $5$ by $- 1$ .

$y - 6 = - \frac{x}{3} - 5 (\frac{1}{3})$

Step 4.1.1.5.2

Combine $- 5$ and $\frac{1}{3}$ .

$y - 6 = - \frac{x}{3} + \frac{- 5}{3}$

Step 4.1.1.6

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$y - 6 = - \frac{x}{3} - \frac{5}{3}$

Step 4.1.2

Move all terms not containing $y$ to the right side of the equation.

Tap for more steps...

Step 4.1.2.1

Add $6$ to both sides of the equation.

$y = - \frac{x}{3} - \frac{5}{3} + 6$

Step 4.1.2.2

To write $6$ as a fraction with a common denominator, multiply by $\frac{3}{3}$ .

$y = - \frac{x}{3} - \frac{5}{3} + 6 \cdot \frac{3}{3}$

Step 4.1.2.3

Combine $6$ and $\frac{3}{3}$ .

$y = - \frac{x}{3} - \frac{5}{3} + \frac{6 \cdot 3}{3}$

Step 4.1.2.4

Combine the numerators over the common denominator.

$y = - \frac{x}{3} + \frac{- 5 + 6 \cdot 3}{3}$

Step 4.1.2.5

Simplify the numerator.

Tap for more steps...

Step 4.1.2.5.1

Multiply $6$ by $3$ .

$y = - \frac{x}{3} + \frac{- 5 + 18}{3}$

Step 4.1.2.5.2

Add $- 5$ and $18$ .

$y = - \frac{x}{3} + \frac{13}{3}$

Step 4.2

Reorder terms.

$y = - (\frac{1}{3} x) + \frac{13}{3}$

Step 4.3

Remove parentheses.

$y = - \frac{1}{3} x + \frac{13}{3}$

Step 5