The Midpoint Formula

The purpose of the midpoint formula The midpoint formula is used to find the midpoint or the halfway point of a line segment or between two points

What is the midpoint formula?

How to apply the midpoint formula Example – find midpoint of the line segment with endpoints (0,-4) and (8,6)

Solution to example x₁ = 0, x₂ = 8, y₁ = -4, and y₂ = 6 (8 + 0 / 2, /2) = (4/2, 2/2) = (2,1) So, the midpoint is (2, 1)

For you to try Find the midpoint of the line segment with endpoints (-7,-3) and (11,-1)

Solution x₁ = -7, x₂ = 11, y₁ = -3, y₂ = -1 ( /2, /2) = (4/2, -4/2) = (2,-2) So, the midpoint is (2, -2)

What if you’re given the midpoint and an endpoint and are asked to find the other endpoint… Example – find the other endpoint of the line segment with endpoint (10,2) and midpoint (-3,-2).

Solution to example We know that according to the midpoint formula (10 + x₂) /2 = -3 and (2 + y₂) /2 = -2, so we must solve both equations. 2 ∙ (10 + x₂)/2 = -3 ∙ x₂ = x₂ = -16

Solution to example continued (2 + y₂) /2 = -2 2 ∙ (2 + y₂) /2 = -2 ∙ y₂ = y₂ = -6 So, the other endpoint is (-16, -6)

For you to try Find the endpoint of the line segment with one endpoint (0, -9) and the midpoint (5, 8).