Find equation perpendicular to given line contain given point? - Answers

If you know the slope of the line that your equation is perpendicular too, you find the negative reciprocal of it and use it as the slope for the line. (negative reciprocal = flip the slope over and change its sign. Ex: a slope of 2 has a negative reciprocal of -1/2. ) Then you use the given point, and put your equation in point-slope form. The general equation for point slope form is Y-y1=m(x-x1) The y1 is the y coordinate of the given point. X1 is the x coordinate of the given point. M is the slope that you found earlier. You now have your equation. If you are asked to put it in slope intercept form, simply distribute the numbers and solve the equation for y.