Line a runs parallel to x-axis.Line b runs parallel to y-axis.When the two lines meet, then they become perpendicular to each other.Now, slope of line a is m_1=tan0=0 And slope of line b is m_2=tan90=1/0 According to converse of perpendicularity of coordinate geometry :Two lines will be perpendicular to each other if and only if the product of their slopes is equal to −1 That means m_1*m_2=−1 But in this problem when we multiply m_1 and m_2 : m_1⋅m_2=0*1/0=0 So the product becomes 0, then please explain how

fabler107

fabler107

Answered question

2022-11-11

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Answer & Explanation

Neil Short

Neil Short

Beginner2022-11-12Added 17 answers

Way to frame whether two lines L , M are perpendicular is to form two vectors pointing along each, then the lines are perpendicular iff the dot product of those two vectors is zero. [To form such a vector for a line L ,, one takes two distinct points on L , and subtracts coordinatewise.
For a line parallel to the x axis one can use a vector like ( a , 0 ) and for a line parallel to the y axis a vector like ( 0 , b ) ,, where neither a nor b is zero since we subtracted different points each time. So here the dot product is ( a , 0 ) ( 0 , b ) = a 0 + 0 b = 0 ,, and we see the lines are perpendicular by the dot product calculation.
One advantage of the dot product approach is that it works for any two lines, even if one or both are vertical (so no slope).

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