Carcass wrote:
Which of the following lines is perpendicular to 4x + 5y = 9 on the xy-plane?
If provided clear algebra on the GRE, attempt to solve the problem algebraically first as it is likely the fastest method.
In this case we remember that the slope-intercept form of the equation of a line is y = mx + b, so we must isolate for y in the given equation.
First, subtract 4x from each side to get 5y = -4x + 9.
Then, divide each side of the equation by 5 to find that y = -4/5x + 9/5.
Finally, remember that the question was asking for the perpendicular slope and that the slopes of perpendicular lines are the opposite sign and reciprocal.
Therefore, the perpendicular line's slope must be 5/4, so select Choice A.