Proof of Perpendicular Lines, m1m2=1m_{1}m_{2}=-1

It is noted that m1=bam_{1}=-\frac{b}{a} and m2=cam_{2}=\frac{c}{a}. Hence, m1m2=bca2m_{1}m_{2}=-\frac{bc}{a^{2}}.

According to the diagram, θ1+θ2=90deg\theta_{1} + \theta_{2} = 90\deg. It can also be seen that tanθ1=ba\tan \theta_{1}=\frac{b}{a} and tanθ2=ca\tan \theta_{2}=\frac{c}{a}.

As such, taking tan(θ1+θ2)=tanθ1+tanθ21tanθ1tanθ2=b/a+c/a1b/a(c/a)\tan \left(\theta_{1} + \theta_{2}\right) = \frac{\tan \theta_{1} + \tan \theta_{2}}{1 - \tan \theta_{1} \tan \theta_{2}} = \frac{b/a + c/a}{1 - b/a\left(c/a\right)}. Since tan(θ1+θ2)=tan90deg=undefined\tan \left(\theta_{1} + \theta_{2}\right) = \tan 90\deg = \text{undefined}, so from 1bca21 - \frac{bc}{a^{2}} of the denominator, we get 1=bca21 = \frac{bc}{a^{2}} such that the denominator is zero.

Substituting 1=bca21 = \frac{bc}{a^{2}} back into m1m2=bca2m_{1}m_{2}=-\frac{bc}{a^{2}}, we get m1m2=1m_{1}m_{2}=-1. Hence, it is shown that m1m2=1m_{1}m_{2}=-1.

#Geometry

Note by Tan Chin Cheern
9 months, 4 weeks ago

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