Precalculus Examples

$y = x + 4$

Step 1

Use the slope-intercept form to find the slope.

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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 $1$ .

$m = 1$

Step 2

The equation of a perpendicular line to $y = x + 4$ must have a slope that is the negative reciprocal of the original slope.

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

Step 3

Simplify the result.

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Step 3.1

Cancel the common factor of $1$ .

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Step 3.1.1

Cancel the common factor.

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

Step 3.1.2

Rewrite the expression.

$m_{perpendicular} = - 1 \cdot 1$

Step 3.2

Multiply $- 1$ by $1$ .

$m_{perpendicular} = - 1$

Step 4