Q.Line through the points (−2,6) and (4,8) is perpendicular to the line through the points (8,12) and (x,24). Find the value of x.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Perpendicular Slopes Condition
Perpendicular Slopes Condition
Imagine two roads crossing at a right angle — that's perpendicular lines. The question is: how do their slopes relate?
The Intuition
Take a line with slope 2. That means for every 1 unit you move right, you go up 2 units — a fairly steep climb. Now picture a line perpendicular to it. If the first line is climbing steeply, the perpendicular line must be falling gently, or climbing very shallowly in the opposite direction.
Why? Because a right angle means the two lines "flip" the rise and run. One line's steepness becomes the other's shallowness, but in the opposite sign.
Try this: a line with slope 2 (rise 2, run 1). A perpendicular line should have rise 1 and run −2 — that gives slope −21. Notice: 2×(−21)=−1.
That's the pattern: the slopes are negative reciprocals of each other.
The Precise Statement
m1⋅m2=−1
Two non-vertical lines are perpendicular if and only if the product of their slopes is −1.
Equivalently: m2=−m11 (provided m1=0).
What About Vertical and Horizontal Lines?
A vertical line has undefined slope. A horizontal line has slope 0. Their product? Undefined — not −1. Yet they are clearly perpendicular.
The formula m1⋅m2=−1 only works when both slopes are defined (neither line is vertical). For a vertical line (x=c) and a horizontal line (y=d), they are perpendicular by definition — no slope calculation needed.
Quick Check
Are y=3x+2 and y=−31x−5 perpendicular?
3×(−31)=−1. Yes.
Are y=4x and y=4x+1 perpendicular?
4×4=16=−1. No — they're parallel.
Why It Works (A Short Proof)
›Proof
Two lines with slopes m1 and m2 make angles θ1 and θ2 with the positive x-axis, where tanθ1=m1 and tanθ2=m2. …
Concept: Two lines are perpendicular if and only if the product of their slopes is −1.
Find the slope of the first line through (−2,6) and (4,8):
m1=4−(−2)8−6=62=31
Find the slope of the second line through (8,12) and (x,24):
m2=x−824−12=x−812
Apply the perpendicularity condition m1⋅m2=−1: …
Perpendicular lines have slopes whose product is −1. With m1=31 and m2=x−812, this gives x=4.
Two non-vertical lines are perpendicular exactly when m1⋅m2=−1.
1. Slope of the first line through (−2,6) and (4,8):
m1=4−(−2)8−6=62=31.
2. Slope of the second line through (8,12) and (x,24):
m2=x−824−12=x−812.
3. Apply the perpendicularity condition m1m2=−1: …
Showing the 12 most recent of 26 on this concept.
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-12-FN1 markMCQQ.A line L≡ax+6y+15=0 is perpendicular to the line passing through the points (−a,3) and (5,6). If the line bx+ay+k=0 is parallel to the line L=0, then a+3b= (A) 0 (B) 60 (C) 20 (D) 40
›Reveal solutionSolution
Use the perpendicularity condition to find a, then the parallelism condition between the two lines to find b.
Concept and Intuition
Two lines A1x+B1y+C1=0 and A2x+B2y+C2=0 are perpendicular iff A1A2+B1B2=0 (equivalently, product of slopes =−1), and parallel iff A1B2=A2B1 (equivalently, equal slopes, A1/A2=B1/B2). This problem chains both conditions: first perpendicularity pins down a, then parallelism (using that a) pins down b.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Slope of the line through (−a,3) and (5,6): 5−(−a)6−3=5+a3.
- Slope of L≡ax+6y+15=0: rewriting y=−6ax−615, slope =−6a.
- Perpendicularity: (−6a)⋅5+a3=−1⇒6(5+a)−3a=−1⇒−3a=−6(5+a)=−30−6a.
- −3a+6a=−30⇒3a=−30⇒a=−10.
- Now L≡−10x+6y+15=0. The line bx+ay+k=0 becomes bx−10y+k=0. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-12-FN1 markMCQQ.A tangent L1 with slope m drawn to the parabola y2=8x is perpendicular to the normal L2 drawn to the parabola y2=12x. If m=1 and the point of intersection of L1 and L2 is (h,k), then h+k= (A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 9 (D) 6
›Reveal solutionSolution
Writing the tangent and normal in slope-form for their respective parabolas and using perpendicularity gives the intersection point (3.5,5.5), so h+k=9.
Concept and Intuition
For y2=4ax, the tangent of slope m is y=mx+a/m, and the normal of slope m is y=mx−2am−am3. Perpendicularity between L1 and L2 links their slopes via m1m2=−1.
Step-by-Step Solution
- y2=8x⇒4a=8⇒a=2. Tangent L1 with slope m=1: y=1⋅x+12=x+2.
- L1⊥L2⇒ slope of L2=−1/m=−1.
- y2=12x⇒4a=12⇒a=3. Normal L2 with slope −1: y=(−1)x−2(3)(−1)−3(−1)3=−x+6+3=−x+9. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-AN1 markMCQQ.If A(2,12),B(5,12+3),C(3,12−3) are the vertices of a triangle ABC, then the ratio in which the perpendicular drawn through A divides the side BC is (A) 2:3 (B) 3:4 (C) 3:5 (D) 1:3
›Reveal solutionSolution
Drop the altitude from A onto BC; computing the foot D directly gives BD=3, DC=1 — the division ratio is 1:3.
Concept and Intuition
The perpendicular from a vertex to the opposite side is the altitude; its foot D splits the opposite side into two segments whose ratio we can get either by the foot's coordinates or, more directly, from the perpendicular-foot formula applied to the line BC.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Slope of BC: 3−5(12−3)−(12+3)=−2−23=3.
- Line BC: y−(12+3)=3(x−5)⇒3x−y+(12−43)=0.
- Foot of perpendicular from A(2,12): using x=x0−a2+b2a(ax0+by0+c), with a=3,b=−1,c=12−43: ax0+by0+c=23−12+12−43=−23, and a2+b2=4.
- x=2−3⋅4−23=2+46=3.5; y=12−(−1)⋅4−23=12−23. So D=(3.5,12−23).
- BD=(5−3.5)2+(3−(−23))2=1.52+(1.53)2=2.25+6.75=9=3. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-13-AN1 markMCQQ.The equation of the normal to the parabola y2=16x which is perpendicular to the line 2x−y+5=0 is (A) x+2y+9=0 (B) x+2y−9=0 (C) x+2y+16=0 (D) x+2y−16=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Find the normal to y2=16x perpendicular to a given line; answer is x+2y−9=0.
Concept and Intuition
A normal to y2=4ax at parameter t has a definite slope −t; matching that slope to the perpendicularity condition pins down t, and then the standard normal-line formula gives the equation.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Line 2x−y+5=0⇒y=2x+5 has slope m=2.
- "Perpendicular to this line" means the normal's slope is −21.
- For y2=16x=4ax, a=4. The normal at parameter t: y=−tx+2at+at3, whose slope is −t.
- Set −t=−21⇒t=21. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-AN1 markMCQQ.The locus of the point which forms a right angled triangle with the fixed points (2, 3) and (5, 1) represents (A) a circle or a pair of parallel lines (B) a pair of parallel lines which are parallel to the line passing through the given points (C) a circle having the line joining the given points as a chord (D) the perpendicular bisector of the line joining the given points
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests recognizing that "forms a right triangle" doesn't fix where the right angle is — it could be at any of the three vertices, giving a compound locus. Answer: a circle (Thales) union a pair of parallel lines (the two perpendiculars at the fixed points).
Concept and Intuition
A triangle is "right-angled" if any one of its three angles is 90°. With two vertices fixed at A=(2,3) and B=(5,1) and the third vertex P varying, we must consider each possible location of the right angle separately, then union the resulting loci — the full locus is the set of all P for which some vertex has a right angle.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Right angle at P: PA⋅PB=0. This is exactly Thales' theorem: P traces the circle having segment AB as its diameter.
- Right angle at A: AP⋅AB=0, i.e. AP⊥AB. So P lies anywhere on the line through A perpendicular to AB.
- Right angle at B: similarly, P lies on the line through B perpendicular to AB.
- The two lines from steps 2–3 are both perpendicular to the same line AB, hence parallel to each other. …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-FN1 markMCQQ.If the image of the point P(2 , 3) in a line L is Q(4 , 5), then the image of the point R(0 , 0) in the same line is (A) (4 , 5) (B) (3 , 4) (C) (2 , 2) (D) (7 , 7)
›Reveal solutionSolution
The unknown mirror line L is recovered as the perpendicular bisector of P and its image Q; reflecting the origin in that recovered line gives (7,7).
Concept and Intuition
If Q is the reflection of P in a line L, then L must be the perpendicular bisector of segment PQ — this is exactly the defining property of a mirror reflection (the mirror line is equidistant from a point and its image, and perpendicular to the segment joining them). Once we know L explicitly, we can reflect any other point in it using the standard reflection formula.
Step-by-Step Solution
- P(2,3), Q(4,5). Midpoint of PQ=(3,4); this point lies on L.
- Slope of PQ=4−25−3=1. Since L⊥PQ, slope of L=−1.
- L:y−4=−1(x−3)⇒y=−x+7⇒x+y−7=0.
- Sanity check: reflect P(2,3) in x+y−7=0 using x′=x0−a2+b22a(ax0+by0+c) with a=b=1, c=−7: ax0+by0+c=2+3−7=−2, so x′=2−22(−2)=2+2=4, y′=3+2=5 — matches Q(4,5). ✓ …
- AP EAPCET 2026Set eng-2026-05-15-FN1 markMCQQ.The points (h , k) , (1 , 2) and (−3 , 4) lie on the line L1. If a line L2 passing through the points (h , k) and (4 , 3) is perpendicular to the line L1, then hk= (A) 41 (B) 31 (C) −71 (D) −51
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using collinearity with L1 and perpendicularity of L2 gives two linear equations in h,k; solving them yields h=3, k=1, so k/h=1/3.
Concept and Intuition
Three points are collinear iff any two of the pairwise slopes match. Here (h,k) lies on the same line L1 as (1,2) and (−3,4), so its slope with either of those points must equal L1's slope. Separately, L2 (through (h,k) and (4,3)) being perpendicular to L1 pins down another relation between h and k — two equations, two unknowns.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Slope of L1 from (1,2) and (−3,4): m1=−3−14−2=−42=−21.
- Since (h,k) lies on L1 too, using (h,k) and (1,2): h−1k−2=−21⇒k=2−2h−1=25−2h. — (i)
- L2 through (h,k) and (4,3) is perpendicular to L1, so slope of L2=m1−1=2.
- 4−h3−k=2⇒3−k=8−2h⇒k=2h−5. — (ii) …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.If the lines 3x+y−4=0, x−αy+10=0, βx+2y+4=0 and 3x+y+k=0 represent the sides of a square, then αβ(k+4)2= (A) −256 (B) −512 (C) −128 (D) −1024
›Reveal solutionSolution
Identify the two parallel pairs forming the square, match slopes for perpendicularity, then equate the two side-lengths.
Concept and Intuition
A square's sides come in two parallel pairs, each pair perpendicular to the other, and all four sides equal in length. Matching slopes pins down α,β; matching perpendicular distances pins down k.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Line 1: 3x+y−4=0 (slope −3); Line 4: 3x+y+k=0 (slope −3) — these are one parallel pair.
- Line 2: x−αy+10=0 (slope 1/α); Line 3: βx+2y+4=0 (slope −β/2) must be perpendicular to slope −3, so both equal 1/3: 1/α=1/3⇒α=3; −β/2=1/3⇒β=−2/3.
- With α=3: Line 2 is x−3y+10=0. With β=−2/3: Line 3 becomes (after clearing fractions) x−3y−6=0.
- Distance between lines 2 & 3: 1+9∣10−(−6)∣=1016 — this is the square's side length. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.If 4x−3y−5=0 is a normal to the ellipse 3x2+8y2=k, then the equation of the tangent drawn to this ellipse at the point (−2,m) (m>0) is (A) 3x+4y−14=0 (B) 3x−4y+10=0 (C) 3x−4y+1=0 (D) 4x+3y−3=0
›Reveal solutionSolution
This tests the normal-to-ellipse condition (to fix k) followed by the tangent-to-ellipse formula at a specific point. The answer is 3x−4y+10=0.
Concept and Intuition
A normal line to a conic at a point is perpendicular to the tangent there. If we know one normal line (as an equation) and the conic's shape up to the unknown k, we can pin down both k and the point of contact by requiring: (i) the slope condition (normal slope from the conic matches the given line's slope), and (ii) the point actually lies on the given line.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Differentiate 3x2+8y2=k implicitly: 6x+16yy′=0⇒y′=−8y3x.
- At the point of tangency (x1,y1), the normal's slope is the negative reciprocal: 3x18y1.
- The given normal is 4x−3y−5=0, i.e. y=34x−35, slope 34. So 3x18y1=34⇒8y1=4x1⇒y1=2x1.
- Since (x1,y1) lies on the line: 4x1−3y1−5=0. Substituting y1=x1/2: 4x1−23x1=5⇒25x1=5⇒x1=2, y1=1.
- Since (2,1) lies on the ellipse: 3(4)+8(1)=k⇒k=20. So the ellipse is 3x2+8y2=20. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-18-FN1 markMCQQ.If the line 5x−2y−6=0 is a tangent to the hyperbola 5x2−ky2=12, then the equation of the normal to this hyperbola at the point (6,b) (b<0) is (A) 6x+2y=0 (B) 26x+3y=3 (C) 6x−5y=21 (D) 36x−y=21
›Reveal solutionSolution
Using the tangency (discriminant=0) condition pins down k, then standard implicit differentiation gives the normal at the required point. The answer is 6x−5y=21.
Concept and Intuition
A line is tangent to a conic exactly when substituting it into the conic's equation produces a quadratic with a repeated root, i.e. discriminant zero. This is the most reliable way to extract an unknown parameter from a tangency statement, more robust than guessing a point first.
Step-by-Step Solution
- From 5x−2y−6=0, y=25x−6.
- Substitute into 5x2−ky2=12: 5x2−k(25x−6)2=12. Multiply by 4: 20x2−k(25x2−60x+36)=48.
- Rearranged: (20−25k)x2+60kx−(36k+48)=0.
- Tangency ⇒ discriminant =0: (60k)2+4(20−25k)(36k+48)=0.
- Expand (20−25k)(36k+48)=−900k2−480k+960. So 3600k2+4(−900k2−480k+960)=0⇒−1920k+3840=0⇒k=2.
- Hyperbola is 5x2−2y2=12. At (6,b): 5(6)−2b2=12⇒2b2=18⇒b2=9; since b<0, b=−3. …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-19-AN1 markMCQQ.The point (a,b) is the foot of the perpendicular drawn from the point (3,1) to the line x+3y+4=0. If (p,q) is the image of (a,b) with respect to the line 3x−4y+11=0, then ap+bq= (A) −3 (B) −5 (C) 3 (D) 7
›Reveal solutionSolution
First find the foot of perpendicular (a,b)=(2,−2) from (3,1) to the given line, then reflect it across the second line to get (p,q)=(−4,6); the requested expression evaluates to −5.
Concept and Intuition
Two standard line-geometry formulas are chained: (1) the foot of perpendicular from a point to a line, and (2) the reflection (image) of a point in a line. Both use the same building block A2+B2Ax1+By1+C.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Foot of perpendicular from (3,1) to x+3y+4=0 (A=1,B=3,C=4): Ax1+By1+C=3+3+4=10, A2+B2=10, ratio =1. (a,b)=(3,1)−1⋅(1,3)=(2,−2).
- Check: 2+3(−2)+4=2−6+4=0 ✓, so (2,−2) indeed lies on the line.
- Reflect (a,b)=(2,−2) in 3x−4y+11=0 (A=3,B=−4,C=11): Ax1+By1+C=6+8+11=25, A2+B2=25, ratio =1. (p,q)=(2,−2)−2⋅1⋅(3,−4)=(2−6,−2+8)=(−4,6). …
- AP EAPCET 2024Set eng-2024-05-20-AN1 markMCQQ.If the line 2x−3y+5=0 is the perpendicular bisector of the line segment joining (1,−2) and (α,β), then α+β= (A) 7 (B) 1 (C) −1 (D) −7
›Reveal solutionSolution
A perpendicular bisector gives two conditions: the midpoint lies on the line, and the segment is perpendicular to it. Solving both gives α+β=1.
Concept and Intuition
'Line L is the perpendicular bisector of segment PQ' means two things simultaneously: (1) the midpoint of PQ lies on L, and (2) PQ⊥L. Both give linear equations in the unknown endpoint.
Step-by-Step Solution
- Midpoint of (1,−2) and (α,β) is (21+α,2−2+β); it lies on 2x−3y+5=0: 2⋅21+α−3⋅2β−2+5=0⇒(1+α)−23(β−2)+5=0.
- (1+α)−1.5β+3+5=0⇒α−1.5β+9=0⇒α−1.5β=−9. — (I)
- Line 2x−3y+5=0 has slope 2/3; the perpendicular segment has slope −3/2.
- Slope of segment joining (1,−2) and (α,β): α−1β+2=−23⇒2(β+2)=−3(α−1)⇒2β+4=−3α+3⇒3α+2β=−1. — (II) …
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