Question line-p

1.1 Linear Functions - Parallel/perpendicular line relationships
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Line p is defined by 2y+18x=9. Line r is perpendicular to line p in the xy-plane. What is the slope of line r ?

A.

-9

B.

- 1 9

C.

1 9

D.

9

Line p is defined by 2 y + 18 x = 9 . Line r is

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 C is correct. It’s given that line r is perpendicular to line p in the xy-plane. This means that the slope of line r is the negative reciprocal of the slope of line p . If the equation for line p is rewritten in slope-intercept form y = m x + b , where m and b are constants, then m is the slope of the line and 0,b is its y-intercept. Subtracting 18 x from both sides of the equation 2y+18x=9 yields 2 y = - 18 x + 9 . Dividing both sides of this equation by 2 yields y = - 9 x + 9 2 . It follows that the slope of line p is -9 . The negative reciprocal of a number is -1 divided by the number. Therefore, the negative reciprocal of -9 is -1-9, or 1 9 . Thus, the slope of line r is 1 9 .

Choice A is incorrect. This is the slope of line p , not line r .

Choice B is incorrect. This is the reciprocal, not the negative reciprocal, of the slope of line p .

Choice D is incorrect. This is the negative, not the negative reciprocal, of the slope of line p .