For what value of a will the lines represented by the equation ax2- 6x...
Perpendicular Lines:
Perpendicular lines have slopes that are negative reciprocals of each other. In other words, if one line has a slope of m, then a line perpendicular to it will have a slope of -1/m.
Finding the Slope:
To find the slope of the given equation ax^2 - 6xy + 9y^2 + 3x - 9y - 4 = 0, we need to rewrite it in the form y = mx + c. Then, the coefficient of x will give us the slope.
Equation in y = mx + c form:
The given equation can be rewritten as 6xy = ax^2 + 9y^2 + 3x - 9y - 4. Dividing by 6 on both sides gives us y = (a/6)x + (3/2)y^2 + (1/2)x - (3/2)y - (2/3).
Finding the Slope:
The coefficient of x in the equation y = (a/6)x + (3/2)y^2 + (1/2)x - (3/2)y - (2/3) is (a/6). For the lines to be perpendicular, the negative reciprocal of this slope should be the slope of the other line.
Negative Reciprocal Slope:
The negative reciprocal of (a/6) is -6/a. Therefore, for the lines to be perpendicular, the slope of the original line should be -6/a.
For Perpendicular Lines:
For the lines to be perpendicular, the slope of the original line should be equal to -6/a. Therefore, a = -6/(-9) = 2/3.
Therefore, the value of a for which the lines represented by the equation ax^2 - 6xy + 9y^2 + 3x - 9y - 4 = 0 will be perpendicular is 2/3.