MIDPOINT OF A LINE SEGMENT

Sometimes we need to find the point that is between the two other points. If a line segment is divided
into two equal parts, then the point of division is the midpoint of the line segment, It is also said that a
line that passes through the midpoint is said to bisect the line segment. For instance, we might need to
find the line that bisects a line segment (divides into equal halves). This point is called the midpoint.
Think about it this way: If you are given two numbers, you can find the exact number between them by
averaging them, by adding it together and dividing it by two. For instance you are given 7 and 12. You
have to find the exact number between them. So by averaging it: 7+12= 192 is equal to 9.5, It means
that 9.5 is the exact number between 7 and 12.
The midpoint formula works exactly the same way, If you need to find the point that is exactly halfway
between two given points, just average the abscissa of the two end points to find the abscissa of the
midpoint, and the average of the ordinate of the two end points to find the ordinate of the midpoint.
This topic is really easy, It is just a matter of your skill to substitute.
source: purplemath.com
For example: Find the midpoint between P(-3,-4) and Q(5,-6) Q(5,-6)
-3+5/2 = R(x,y) (1,-5)
2/2= 1=xm
-4+(-6)/2= P(-3,-4)
-10/2= -5=ym
Therefore the coordinates of the Midpoint is (1,-5) To check whether of this is correct, we can check it
by using the Distance Formula

(

)

= (

)

=
=
It means that (1,-5) is the midpoint of the line segment.
What if the given is the other endpoint and the midpoint?
For example: A circle has a center of (3,-2) and the diameters has two endpoints having the one end
point at (7,2) find the other endpoint (x,y)

(x
1
,y
1
) (x,y) (3, -2) (7,2) (x
2,
y
2
)
(xm,ym)


The formula for finding the other endpoint is:
x
1
=2xm x
2
x
2=
2xm - x
1

y
1=
2ym - y
2
y
2=
2ym- y
1
To solve:
2(3) 7 2(-2) - 2
6-7 -4-2
X
1=
-1 y
1= -6
Then the coordinates of (x,y) is (-1,-6)