Expert: Abe Mantell - 7/5/2009

Question
Write an equation in slope intercept form for a line that passes through the give point and is perpendicular to the given line.

y=3; (4,-2)

It confused me because i didn't knwo whether to use point slope form or slope intercept, and i didn't know if x would equal one or zero in this equation, i did the others just fine but this one threw me

Answer
Hello Malia,

Since y=3 is a horizontal line (with a zero slope), a perpendicular
line to it would be vertical (with an undefined or infinite slope).
Hence, the line in question is of the form x="a constant"...since
it must contain the point (4,-2), the equation must be x=4.

OK?

Abe