Using the Midpoint Formula

When the endpoints of a line segment are known, we can find the point midway between them. This point is known as the midpoint and the formula is known as the midpoint formula. Given the endpoints of a line segment, [latex]\left({x}_{1},{y}_{1}\right)[/latex] and [latex]\left({x}_{2},{y}_{2}\right)[/latex], the midpoint formula states how to find the coordinates of the midpoint [latex]M[/latex].

[latex]M=\left(\frac{{x}_{1}+{x}_{2}}{2},\frac{{y}_{1}+{y}_{2}}{2}\right)[/latex]

A graphical view of a midpoint is shown in Figure 14. Notice that the line segments on either side of the midpoint are congruent.

This is a line graph on an x, y coordinate plane with the x and y axes ranging from 0 to 6. The points (x sub 1, y sub 1), (x sub 2, y sub 2), and (x sub 1 plus x sub 2 all over 2, y sub 1 plus y sub 2 all over 2) are plotted. A straight line runs through these three points. Pairs of short parallel lines bisect the two sections of the line to note that they are equivalent.

Figure 14

Example 7: Finding the Midpoint of the Line Segment

Find the midpoint of the line segment with the endpoints [latex]\left(7,-2\right)[/latex] and [latex]\left(9,5\right)[/latex].

Solution

Use the formula to find the midpoint of the line segment.

[latex]\begin{array}{l}\left(\frac{{x}_{1}+{x}_{2}}{2},\frac{{y}_{1}+{y}_{2}}{2}\right)\hfill&=\left(\frac{7+9}{2},\frac{-2+5}{2}\right)\hfill \\ \hfill&=\left(8,\frac{3}{2}\right)\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

Try It 2

Find the midpoint of the line segment with endpoints [latex]\left(-2,-1\right)[/latex] and [latex]\left(-8,6\right)[/latex].

Solution

Example 8: Finding the Center of a Circle

The diameter of a circle has endpoints [latex]\left(-1,-4\right)[/latex] and [latex]\left(5,-4\right)[/latex]. Find the center of the circle.

Solution

The center of a circle is the center, or midpoint, of its diameter. Thus, the midpoint formula will yield the center point.

[latex]\begin{array}{c}\left(\frac{{x}_{1}+{x}_{2}}{2},\frac{{y}_{1}+{y}_{2}}{2}\right)\\ \left(\frac{-1+5}{2},\frac{-4 - 4}{2}\right)=\left(\frac{4}{2},-\frac{8}{2}\right)=\left(2,-4\right)\end{array}[/latex]