MA 3972-MA-Book May 8, 2018 13:4648 STEP 4. Review the Knowledge You Need to Score High
Linesl 1 andl 2 are perpendicular if and only ifm 1 m 2 =−1. (See Figure 5.1-4.)l 1 l^2y0 xFigure 5.1-4Example 1
Write an equation of the line through the point (−1, 3) and parallel to the line 3x− 2 y=6.
(See Figure 5.1-5.)y0 x3 x − 2 y = 6
(−1, 3)− 3Figure 5.1-5Begin by expressing 3x− 2 y=6inslope-intercept form.
3 x− 2 y= 6
− 2 y=− 3 x+ 6y=− 3
− 2
x+6
− 2
y=3
2
x− 3Therefore, the slope of the line 3x− 2 y=6ism=3
2
, and the slope of the line parallel tothe line 3x− 2 y=6 is also3
2
. Since the line parallel to 3x− 2 y=6 passes through the point
(−1, 3), you can use the point-slope form to obtain the equationy− 3 =3
2
(x−(−1)) ory− 3 =3
2
(x+1).Example 2
Write an equation of the perpendicular bisector of the line segment joining the points
A(3, 0) andB(−1, 4). (See Figure 5.1-6.)