Calculus 10th Edition

Published by Brooks Cole
ISBN 10: 1-28505-709-0
ISBN 13: 978-1-28505-709-5

Chapter P - P.2 - Linear Models and Rates of Change - Exercises - Page 18: 92

Answer

Lines $L_1$ and $L_2$ are perpendicular.

Work Step by Step

If you let $m_1$ be equivalent to $-\frac{1}{m^2}$, which can be written as $$m_1 = -\frac{1}{m^2}$$ then that would mean the following: $$\begin{matrix} m_1 = -\frac{1}{m^2}\\\\ m_1 = \frac{-1}{m^2}\\\\ m_1(m_2) = \frac{-1}{m^2}(m_2)\\\\ m_1m_2 = -1 \end{matrix}$$ Next, if you consider $L_3$ to the line that has $m_3$ as its slope while it is perpendicular to $L_1$, then that would mean the following (with it most likely sounding like $-1 \times 1 = -1$): $$m_1m_3=-1$$ Since $m_1m_3=-1$, then that would mean that $$m_2=m_3$$ but it also means that lines $L_2$ and $L_3$ are parallel. So, with that being said, lines $L_1$ and $L_2$ are perpendicular.
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