Line t passes through points (8, 8) and (10, 3). Line u is perpendicular to t. What is the slope of line u?

Simplify your answer and write it as a proper fraction, improper fraction, or integer.

1 answer

To find the slope of line \( u \), which is perpendicular to line \( t \), we first need to determine the slope of line \( t \).

The slope \( m \) of a line that passes through two points \((x_1, y_1)\) and \((x_2, y_2)\) is calculated using the formula:

\[ m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1} \]

Given the points \((8, 8)\) and \((10, 3)\), we assign:

  • \((x_1, y_1) = (8, 8)\)
  • \((x_2, y_2) = (10, 3)\)

Now, we substitute these values into the slope formula:

\[ m_t = \frac{3 - 8}{10 - 8} = \frac{-5}{2} \]

The slope of line \( t \) is \( -\frac{5}{2} \).

Next, to find the slope of line \( u \) which is perpendicular to line \( t \), we use the property that the slopes of two perpendicular lines are negative reciprocals of each other. If the slope of line \( t \) is \( m_t \), then the slope of line \( u \), denoted as \( m_u \), is given by:

\[ m_u = -\frac{1}{m_t} \]

Substituting \( m_t = -\frac{5}{2} \):

\[ m_u = -\frac{1}{-\frac{5}{2}} = \frac{2}{5} \]

Thus, the slope of line \( u \) is:

\[ \boxed{\frac{2}{5}} \]