Thread: Would like someone to check my answer for finding gradients and perpendicularity

Points P ≡ (-1,1), Q ≡ (1,-4), R ≡ (6,-2) are given. Find the gradients of the lines PQ and QR, and show that they are perpendicular.

Here's what I've got - is this correct?

slope of PQ = (y2 - y1) /(x2 -x1) = (-4 -1)/(1 - (-1)) = -5/2

slope of QR = ( -2 - (-4) ) / (6 - 1) = 2/5

slope of PQ * slope of Qr = -5/2 * 2/5 = -1

so PQ perpendicular to QR

Originally Posted by brumby_3

Points P ≡ (-1,1), Q ≡ (1,-4), R ≡ (6,-2) are given. Find the gradients of the lines PQ and QR, and show that they are perpendicular.

Here's what I've got - is this correct?

slope of PQ = (y2 - y1) /(x2 -x1) = (-4 -1)/(1 - (-1)) = -5/2

slope of QR = ( -2 - (-4) ) / (6 - 1) = 2/5

slope of PQ * slope of Qr = -5/2 * 2/5 = -1

so PQ perpendicular to QR

Looks good to me.

-Dan