Answer:
[tex]y=-3x-8[/tex]
Step-by-step explanation:
Hi there!
What we need to know:
1) Determine the midpoint of the line segment
When two lines bisect each other, they intersect at the middle of each line, or the midpoint.
[tex](\frac{x_1+x_2}{2} ,\frac{y_1+y_2}{2} )[/tex]
Plug in the endpoints (5, -3) and (-7, -7)
[tex](\frac{5+(-7)}{2} ,\frac{-3+(-7)}{2} )\\(\frac{-2}{2} ,\frac{-10}{2} )\\(-1,-5)[/tex]
Therefore, the midpoint of the line segment is (-1,-5).
2) Determine the slope of the line segment
Recall that the slopes of perpendicular lines are negative reciprocals. Doing this will help us determine the slope of the perpendicular bisector.
Slope = [tex]\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}[/tex] where the given points are [tex](x_1,y_1)[/tex] and [tex](x_2,y_2)[/tex]
Plug in the endpoints (5, -3) and (-7, -7)
[tex]\frac{-7-(-3)}{-7-5}\\\frac{-7+3}{-7-5}\\\frac{-4}{-12}\\\frac{1}{3}[/tex]
Therefore, the slope of the line segment is [tex]\frac{1}{3}[/tex]. The negative reciprocal of [tex]\frac{1}{3}[/tex] is -3, so the slope of the perpendicular is -3. Plug this into [tex]y=mx+b[/tex]:
[tex]y=-3x+b[/tex]
3) Determine the y-intercept of the perpendicular bisector (b)
[tex]y=-3x+b[/tex]
Recall that the midpoint of the line segment is is (-1,-5), and that the perpendicular bisector passes through this point. Plug this point into [tex]y=-3x+b[/tex] and solve for b:
[tex]-5=-3(-1)+b\\-5=3+b[/tex]
Subtract 3 from both sides
[tex]-5-3=3+b-3\\-8=b[/tex]
Therefore, the y-intercept of the line is -8. Plug this back into [tex]y=-3x+b[/tex]:
[tex]y=-3x-8[/tex]
I hope this helps!
