How do you know if two line segments are perpendicular? a. the slope of one is the negative of the slope of the other. b. their slopes are reciprocals. c. their slopes are negative reciprocals. d. their slopes are equal.

 The correct option is

(C) Their slopes are negative reciprocals.

Step-by-step explanation:  We are given to select the correct reason for two line segments to be perpendicular.

We know that

If two line segments are perpendicular, then the product of their slopes is - 1.

Let, m and n represents the slopes of two lines that are perpendicular to each other.

Then, we must have

This implies that m is the negative reciprocal of n and n is the negative reciprocal of m.

Thus, the slopes are negative reciprocals.

Option (C) is CORRECT.

If two line segments are perpendicular their slopes are negative reciprocals. Option (C) is correct.

Further explanation:

Given:

The options are as follows,

A. The slope of one is the negative of the slope of the other.

B. Their slopes are reciprocals.

C. Their slopes are negative reciprocals.

D. Their slopes are equal.

Explanation:

Consider the slope of the first line as

The slope of the second line is

The product of the slopes of the perpendicular line is

The slopes are negative reciprocals to each other.

If two line segments are perpendicular their slopes are negative reciprocals. Option (C) is correct.

Option (A) is not correct.

Option (B) is not correct.

Option (C) is correct.

Option (D) is not correct.

Learn more:

Answer details:

Grade: High School

Subject: Mathematics

Chapter: Linear equation

Keywords: line segment, perpendicular, slope, negative slope, reciprocals, slopes are equal, negative reciprocals, graph function, numbers, slope, slope intercept, equation, origin.