본문으로 바로 이동 / Skip to content

PROOF 22

Prove.

Perpendicular lines have slopes whose product is −1

On the coordinate plane.

A way to read this proof

First separate what is assumed from what is to be proved. At each step, ask which definition or earlier result permits the move. If it is unclear, return to that premise rather than skipping to the conclusion.

Definition D1

The line through the origin with slope m is y = mx, and it passes through the point (1, m).

Proof.

(1)Perpendicularity of two lines is unchanged by translation, so assume both pass through the origin.convention
(2)Substituting x = 1 gives y = m.(1), A7

∎

Lemma L1

If O = (0, 0) and P = (1, m), then OP² = 1 + m²

Proof.

(1)Let H = (1, 0).convention
(2)If m = 0, then P = H and OP = 1, so OP² = 1 = 1 + 0²(1), A3, A15
(3)Now suppose m ≠ 0.assumption
(4)OH is a horizontal segment with OH = 1; HP is a vertical segment with HP = |m|(1), A3
(5)Triangle OHP has a right angle at H and its hypotenuse is OP.(4), A2
(6)OP² = OH² + HP² = 1 + |m|²(5), (4), A1
(7)OP² = 1 + m²(6), A4

∎

Lemma L2

For all u, v, (u − v)² = u² − 2uv + v²

Proof.

(1)(u − v)² = (u + (−v))(u + (−v))convention
(2)    = u(u + (−v)) + (−v)(u + (−v))(1), A5, A6
(3)u(u + (−v)) = u² + u(−v) = u² + (−(uv))A5, A8
(4)(−v)(u + (−v)) = (−v)u + (−v)(−v) = (−(uv)) + v²A5, A6, A8, A9
(5)(−(uv)) + (−(uv)) = (1 + 1)(−(uv)) = 2(−(uv))A5, A6, A7
(6)2(−(uv)) = −(2(uv)), which is written −2uv.(5), A8, convention
(7)(u − v)² = u² − 2uv + v²(2), (3), (4), (6), A10, A11

∎

Theorem T

If two lines with slopes m₁, m₂ are perpendicular, then m₁m₂ = −1

Proof.

(1)Take the lines to be y = m₁x, y = m₂x, perpendicular at the origin.assumption, D1
(2)A = (1, m₁), B = (1, m₂) are points on the two lines respectively.D1
(3)Triangle OAB has a right angle at O and its hypotenuse is AB.(1), (2)
(4)OA² + OB² = AB²(3), A1
(5)OA² = 1 + m₁², OB² = 1 + m₂²L1
(6)A and B have the same x-coordinate, so AB is a vertical segment and AB = |m₁ − m₂|(2), A3
(7)AB² = (m₁ − m₂)²(6), A4
(8)(1 + m₁²) + (1 + m₂²) = (m₁ − m₂)²(4), (5), (7)
(9)(m₁ − m₂)² = m₁² + m₂² + (−(2m₁m₂))L2, A10, A11
(10)(m₁² + m₂²) + 2 = (m₁² + m₂²) + (−(2m₁m₂))(8), (9), A10, A11
(11)2 = −(2m₁m₂)(10), A12
(12)2 × 1 = 2 and −(2m₁m₂) = 2(−(m₁m₂))A7, A8
(13)0 ≠ 2, so 1 = −(m₁m₂)(11), (12), A15, A13
(14)m₁m₂ + (−(m₁m₂)) = 0, so m₁m₂ + 1 = 0A14, (13), E
(15)The inverse is unique, so m₁m₂ = −1(14), A14

∎

Remark

Can A1 be removed from this proof?

Check whether −1 comes from algebra or from geometry. Separate the lines that expand from the lines that measure length.