In the xy-plane, the graph of the linear function f is perpendicular to the line with equa… — SAT

In the $xy$ -plane, the graph of the linear function $f$ is perpendicular to the line with equation $3x + 4y = 48$ . The graph of $f$ intersects the $x$ -axis at the point $(p, 0)$ and the $y$ -axis at the point $(0, q)$ , where $q > 0$ . If the distance between the points $(p, 0)$ and $(0, q)$ is $15$ , what is the value of $q$ ?

Answer: 12

Answer

First, find the slope of the given line by rewriting

3x + 4y = 48

in slope-intercept form:

y = -\frac{3}{4}x + 12

. The slope is

-\frac{3}{4}

. The graph of the linear function

f

is perpendicular to this line, so its slope is the negative reciprocal,

\frac{4}{3}

. With a

y

-intercept of

(0, q)

, the equation of

f

y = \frac{4}{3}x + q

. Setting

y = 0

gives the

x

-intercept

(p, 0) = (-\frac{3}{4}q, 0)

. The distance between these intercepts is

\sqrt{(-\frac{3}{4}q)^2 + q^2} = \sqrt{\frac{25}{16}q^2} = \frac{5}{4}q

(since

q > 0

). Given that the distance is

15

, we solve

\frac{5}{4}q = 15

to find

q = 12

Step-by-Step Solution

Find the slope of the line

3x + 4y = 48

The slope of the line is

-\frac{3}{4}

To find the slope of the perpendicular line

f

, we first need the slope of the given line. Rewriting

3x + 4y = 48

in slope-intercept form gives

y = -\frac{3}{4}x + 12

Determine the slope of

f

The slope of

f

\frac{4}{3}

Perpendicular lines have slopes that are negative reciprocals of each other.

Find the

x

-intercept of

f

in terms of

q

The

x

-intercept of

f

(-\frac{3}{4}q, 0)

Since the

y

-intercept of

f

(0, q)

, the equation of

f

y = \frac{4}{3}x + q

. Setting

y = 0

gives

0 = \frac{4}{3}x + q

, which simplifies to

x = -\frac{3}{4}q

Use the distance formula between the intercepts to solve for

q

The value of

q

12

The distance between

(-\frac{3}{4}q, 0)

and

(0, q)

\sqrt{(-\frac{3}{4}q)^2 + q^2} = \sqrt{\frac{25}{16}q^2} = \frac{5}{4}q

since

q > 0

. Setting this distance to

15

gives

\frac{5}{4}q = 15

, which yields

q = 12

Key Concept

Properties of perpendicular lines, finding intercepts, and utilizing the distance formula in coordinate geometry.

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