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Midpoint formula review

Review the midpoint formula and how to apply it to solve problems.

What is the midpoint formula?

The formula gives the midpoint of the points left parenthesis, start color #1fab54, x, start subscript, 1, end subscript, end color #1fab54, comma, start color #e07d10, y, start subscript, 1, end subscript, end color #e07d10, right parenthesis and left parenthesis, start color #1fab54, x, start subscript, 2, end subscript, end color #1fab54, comma, start color #e07d10, y, start subscript, 2, end subscript, end color #e07d10, right parenthesis in the coordinate plane:
left parenthesis, start color #1fab54, start fraction, x, start subscript, 1, end subscript, plus, x, start subscript, 2, end subscript, divided by, 2, end fraction, end color #1fab54, comma, start color #e07d10, start fraction, y, start subscript, 1, end subscript, plus, y, start subscript, 2, end subscript, divided by, 2, end fraction, end color #e07d10, right parenthesis
The first quadrant of a coordinate plane with three tick marks on the x axis labeled x one, x one plus x two all divided by two, and x two. There are three tick marks on the y axis labeled y one, y one plus y two all divided by two, and y two. There is a point at x one, y one and another point at x two, y two. A third point is the midpoint of the two others at x one plus x two all divided by two, y one plus y two all divided by two.
Want to learn more about the midpoint formula? Check out this video.

What problems can I solve with the midpoint formula?

Given two points on the plane, you can find their midpoint. For example, let's find the midpoint of left parenthesis, start color #1fab54, 5, end color #1fab54, comma, start color #e07d10, 3, end color #e07d10, right parenthesis and left parenthesis, start color #1fab54, 1, end color #1fab54, comma, start color #e07d10, 7, end color #e07d10, right parenthesis:
=(x1+x22,y1+y22)=(5+12,3+72)Plug in coordinates=(3,5)\begin{aligned} &\phantom{=}\left(\greenD{\dfrac{x_1+x_2}{2}}, \goldD{\dfrac{y_1+y_2}{2}}\right) \\\\ &=\left(\greenD{\dfrac{5+1}{2}}, \goldD{\dfrac{3+7}{2}}\right)\quad\small\gray{\text{Plug in coordinates}} \\\\ &=(\greenD3, \goldD5) \end{aligned}
Notice: we were careful to put the x-coordinates together and the y-coordinates together and not mix them up.

Check your understanding

Problem 1
  • Current
What is the midpoint of left parenthesis, 6, comma, 2, right parenthesis and left parenthesis, 10, comma, 0, right parenthesis?
Choose 1 answer:

Want to try more problems like this? Check out this exercise.

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