3.

7 Perpendicular Lines in the Coordinate Plane

6

fx = 2x-1 gx =

Geometry Mrs. Spitz Fall 2005

-1 2

x+2
4

-5

-2

-4

Standard/Objectives:
Standard 3: Students will learn and apply geometric concepts. Objectives: Use slope to identify perpendicular lines in a coordinate plane Write equations of perpendicular lines.

Assignment:
Pp. 175-177 #7-45 and 47-50

Postulate 18: Slopes of Perpendicular Lines

In a coordinate plane, two nonvertical lines are perpendicular if and only if the product of their slopes is -1. Vertical and horizontal lines are perpendicular

fx = 2x-1 gx =

-1 2

x+2
4

-5

-2

-4

Ex. 1: Deciding whether lines are perpendicular

Find each slope. Slope of j1
3-1 = - 2 1-3 3
gx = hx =

Slope of j2 3-(-3) = 6 = 3 0-(-4) 4 2 Multiply the two slopes. The product of -2 3 = -1, so j1 j2 3 2

-2 3 3 2

x+3
4

x+3

-5

-2

-4

Ex.2 Deciding whether lines are perpendicular

Decide whether AC and DB are perpendicular. Solution: Slope of AC= 2-(-4) = 6 = 2 41 3 Slope of DB= The product of 2(-1/2) = -1; 2-(-1) = 3 = 1 so ACDB -1 5 -6 -2
4 2 -5 5 -2 -4

Ex.3: Deciding whether lines are perpendicular

Line h: y = x +2 The slope of line h is . Line j: y=-4/3 x 3 The slope of line j is 4/3. The product of and 4/3 is -1, so the lines are perpendicular.

3 4 -4 3

fx =

x+2 x-3
4

gx =

-5

-2

-4

Ex.4: Deciding whether lines are perpendicular

Line r: 4x+5y=2 4x + 5y = 2 5y = -4x + 2 y = -4/5 x + 2/5
Slope of line r is -4/5
-4 -5 = 1 5 4

Line s: 5x + 4y = 3 5x + 4y = 3 4y = -5x + 3 y = -5/4 x + 3/5

Slope of line s is -4/5
The product of the slopes is NOT -1; so r and s are NOT perpendicular.

Ex. 5: Writing the equation of a perpendicular line.

Line l1 has an equation of y = -2x + 1. Find the equation of a line l2 that passes through P(4, 0) and is perpendicular to l1. First you must find the slope, m2. m1 m2 = -1
Then use m = and (x, y) = (4, 0) to find b. y = mx + b 0 = (4) + b 0=2+b -2 = b So, an equation of l2 is y=x-2
-2 m2 = -1 m2 =

Ex. 6: Writing the equation of a perpendicular line

The equation y = 3/2 x + 3 represents a mirror. A ray of light hits the mirror at (-2, 0). What is the equation of the line p that is perpendicular to the mirror at this point?
4

fx =

3 2

x+3
2

gx =

-2 3

x-

4 3

-5

The mirrors slope is 3/2, so the slope of p is -2/3. Use m = -2/3 and (x, y) = (-2, 0) to find b. 0 = -2/3(-2) + b 0 = 4/3 + b -4/3 = b So, an equation for p is y = -2/3 x 4/3

-2

-4

Coming Attractions:
Chapter 3 Review pp.180-182 #1-24. Chapter 3 Exam Chapter 4 Vocabulary Chapter 4: Postulates/ Theorems