Question 5-x-7-
In the given pair of equations, and are constants. The graph of this pair of equations in the xy-plane is a pair of perpendicular lines. Which of the following pairs of equations also represents a pair of perpendicular lines?
5 x + 7 y = 1 a x + b y = 1 In the
Hard-difficulty · SAT Math · Linear Functions — Parallel/perpendicular line relationships. Read the question above, select your answer, and check the full explanation below to understand exactly why the correct choice works.
Answer explanation
Choice B is correct. Two lines are perpendicular if their slopes are negative reciprocals, meaning that the slope of the first line is equal to divided by the slope of the second line. Each equation in the given pair of equations can be written in slope-intercept form, , where is the slope of the graph of the equation in the xy-plane and is the y-intercept. For the first equation, , subtracting from both sides gives , and dividing both sides of this equation by gives . Therefore, the slope of the graph of this equation is . For the second equation, , subtracting from both sides gives , and dividing both sides of this equation by gives . Therefore, the slope of the graph of this equation is . Since the graph of the given pair of equations is a pair of perpendicular lines, the slope of the graph of the second equation, , must be the negative reciprocal of the slope of the graph of the first equation, . The negative reciprocal of is , or . Therefore, , or . Similarly, rewriting the equations in choice B in slope-intercept form yields and . It follows that the slope of the graph of the first equation in choice B is and the slope of the graph of the second equation in choice B is . Since , is equal to , or . Since is the negative reciprocal of , the pair of equations in choice B represents a pair of perpendicular lines.
Choice A is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
Choice C is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
Choice D is incorrect and may result from conceptual or calculation errors.
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