Expert: Sherman D. - 9/22/2009

Question
17. For question 17, find the slope-intercept form of the line satisfying the given conditions. The line is the perpendicular bisector of the line segment joining (2,8) and (-4,6). I got y=(-3x)+4 as my answer by using the midpoint formula that my teacher told me to use. How come you came with y=(-3x)+14 and did not use the midpoint formula.

Answer
(2,8) and (-4,6)

m = (6 - 8)/(-4 - 2)
m = (-2)/(-6)
m = (1/3)

M = ((-4 + 2)/2),((6 + 8)/2)
M = (-2/2),(14/2)
m = (-1,7)

(-1,7), m = -3
7 = -3(-1) + b
4 = b

ANS : y = -3x + 4

sorry i forgot that since it was a segment that i would need to cut the segment in half, so i would need to use the midpoint for that. i haven't done bisectors in a while so i forgot about that.