The equation of line [tex][tex]$WX$[/tex][/tex] is [tex][tex]$2x + y = -5$[/tex][/tex]. What is the equation of a line perpendicular to line [tex][tex]$WX$[/tex][/tex] in slope-intercept form that contains point [tex][tex]$(-1, -2)$[/tex][/tex]?



Answer :

To determine the equation of a line perpendicular to the line [tex]\(WX\)[/tex] and passing through the point [tex]\((-1, -2)\)[/tex], we need to follow several steps:

1. Convert the given line equation to slope-intercept form:
The equation of line [tex]\(WX\)[/tex] is given by:
[tex]\[ 2x + y = -5 \][/tex]
To express this in slope-intercept form [tex]\(y = mx + b\)[/tex], we need to solve for [tex]\(y\)[/tex]:
[tex]\[ y = -2x - 5 \][/tex]
Here, the slope [tex]\(m\)[/tex] of line [tex]\(WX\)[/tex] is [tex]\(-2\)[/tex].

2. Find the slope of the perpendicular line:
The slope of a line perpendicular to another is the negative reciprocal of the original line's slope. Therefore, the slope [tex]\(m_{\perpendicular}\)[/tex] of the perpendicular line is:
[tex]\[ m_{\perpendicular} = -\frac{1}{-2} = \frac{1}{2} \][/tex]

3. Use the point-slope form to find the equation of the perpendicular line:
The point-slope form of a line's equation is given by:
[tex]\[ y - y_1 = m(x - x_1) \][/tex]
Given the point [tex]\((-1, -2)\)[/tex], we have:
[tex]\[ x_1 = -1 \quad \text{and} \quad y_1 = -2 \][/tex]
Substituting the point [tex]\((-1, -2)\)[/tex] and the slope [tex]\(\frac{1}{2}\)[/tex] into the point-slope form equation, we get:
[tex]\[ y - (-2) = \frac{1}{2}(x - (-1)) \][/tex]
Simplifying this, we get:
[tex]\[ y + 2 = \frac{1}{2}(x + 1) \][/tex]

4. Simplify to slope-intercept form:
To express the equation in slope-intercept form [tex]\(y = mx + b\)[/tex], distribute the slope:
[tex]\[ y + 2 = \frac{1}{2}x + \frac{1}{2} \][/tex]
Then, isolate [tex]\(y\)[/tex] by subtracting 2 from both sides:
[tex]\[ y = \frac{1}{2}x + \frac{1}{2} - 2 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ y = \frac{1}{2}x - \frac{3}{2} \][/tex]

Thus, the equation of the line perpendicular to line [tex]\(WX\)[/tex] and passing through the point [tex]\((-1, -2)\)[/tex] is:
[tex]\[ y = 0.5x - 1.5 \][/tex]

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