Determine the slope of the given line: 5 1 .
Calculate the slope of the perpendicular line: − 5 .
Identify the y-intercept of the given line: 1 .
Construct the equation of the perpendicular line using the slope-intercept form: y = − 5 x + 1 . The final answer is y = − 5 x + 1 .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem The problem asks us to find the equation of a line that is perpendicular to a given line and shares the same y-intercept. Let's break this down step by step.
Identifying Key Information The given line is y = 5 1 x + 1 . We need to find a line perpendicular to this one that has the same y-intercept.
Finding the Perpendicular Slope The slope of the given line is 5 1 . The slope of a line perpendicular to this will be the negative reciprocal of 5 1 , which is − 5 .
Determining the Y-Intercept The y-intercept of the given line is 1 . The new line must have the same y-intercept, so its y-intercept is also 1 .
Constructing the Equation Now we use the slope-intercept form of a line, which is y = m x + b , where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept. We have m = − 5 and b = 1 . Substituting these values, we get y = − 5 x + 1 .
Final Answer Therefore, the equation of the line that is perpendicular to y = 5 1 x + 1 and has the same y-intercept is y = − 5 x + 1 .
Examples
Understanding perpendicular lines is crucial in many real-world applications. For example, architects use this concept to ensure walls are perfectly upright, and streets intersect at right angles for efficient traffic flow. Imagine you're designing a garden and want a path that's perpendicular to an existing fence. Knowing the slope of the fence allows you to calculate the slope of the path, ensuring they meet at a 90-degree angle. This principle also applies in navigation, where understanding perpendicular bearings helps ships and airplanes stay on course.
The equation of the line that is perpendicular to the given line y = 5 1 x + 1 , while having the same y-intercept, is y = − 5 x + 1 .
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