Answer :

Answer:

  2

Step-by-step explanation:

You want the slope of a line perpendicular to the line through points (1, 2) and (3, 1).

Slope

You are correct that the slope of the line through the given point is ...

  [tex]m=\dfrac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}=\dfrac{1-2}{3-1}=\dfrac{-1}{2}=-0.5[/tex]

As you say, this is also the slope of a parallel line.

Perpendicular

The slope of a perpendicular line will be the opposite reciprocal of this:

  m⊥ = -1/m = -1/(-0.5) = 2

The slope of a perpendicular line is 2.