Find the Slope of the Perpendicular Line to the Line Through the Two Points (-2,5) , (1,-1)

$(- 2, 5)$ , $(1, - 1)$

Step 1

Slope is equal to the change in $y$ over the change in $x$ , or rise over run.

$m = \frac{change in y}{change in x}$

Step 2

The change in $x$ is equal to the difference in x-coordinates (also called run), and the change in $y$ is equal to the difference in y-coordinates (also called rise).

$m = \frac{y_{2} - y_{1}}{x_{2} - x_{1}}$

Step 3

Substitute in the values of $x$ and $y$ into the equation to find the slope.

$m = \frac{- 1 - (5)}{1 - (- 2)}$

Step 4

Simplify.

Simplify the numerator.

Multiply $- 1$ by $5$ .

$m = \frac{- 1 - 5}{1 - (- 2)}$

Subtract $5$ from $- 1$ .

$m = \frac{- 6}{1 - (- 2)}$

Simplify the denominator.

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 2$ .

$m = \frac{- 6}{1 + 2}$

Add $1$ and $2$ .

$m = \frac{- 6}{3}$

Divide $- 6$ by $3$ .

$m = - 2$

Step 5

The slope of a perpendicular line is the negative reciprocal of the slope of the line that passes through the two given points.

$m_{perpendicular} = - \frac{1}{m}$

Step 6

Simplify $- \frac{1}{- 2}$ .

Move the negative in front of the fraction.

$m_{perpendicular} = \frac{1}{2}$

Multiply $- - \frac{1}{2}$ .

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 1$ .

$m_{perpendicular} = 1 (\frac{1}{2})$

Multiply $\frac{1}{2}$ by $1$ .

$m_{perpendicular} = \frac{1}{2}$

Step 7

Find the Slope of the Perpendicular Line to the Line Through the Two Points (-2,5) , (1,-1)

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