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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, ( x 1 , y 1 ) and ( x 2 , y 2 ) , the midpoint formula states how to find the coordinates of the midpoint M .

M = ( x 1 + x 2 2 , y 1 + y 2 2 )

A graphical view of a midpoint is shown in [link] . 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.

Finding the midpoint of the line segment

Find the midpoint of the line segment with the endpoints ( 7 , −2 ) and ( 9 , 5 ) .

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

( x 1 + x 2 2 , y 1 + y 2 2 ) = ( 7 + 9 2 , 2 + 5 2 ) = ( 8 , 3 2 )
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Find the midpoint of the line segment with endpoints ( −2 , −1 ) and ( −8 , 6 ) .

( 5 , 5 2 )

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Finding the center of a circle

The diameter of a circle has endpoints ( −1 , −4 ) and ( 5 , −4 ) . Find the center of the circle.

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

( x 1 + x 2 2 , y 1 + y 2 2 ) ( 1 + 5 2 , 4 4 2 ) = ( 4 2 , 8 2 ) = ( 2 , −4 )
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Access these online resources for additional instruction and practice with the Cartesian coordinate system.

Key concepts

  • We can locate, or plot, points in the Cartesian coordinate system using ordered pairs, which are defined as displacement from the x- axis and displacement from the y- axis. See [link] .
  • An equation can be graphed in the plane by creating a table of values and plotting points. See [link] .
  • Using a graphing calculator or a computer program makes graphing equations faster and more accurate. Equations usually have to be entered in the form y= _____. See [link] .
  • Finding the x- and y- intercepts can define the graph of a line. These are the points where the graph crosses the axes. See [link] .
  • The distance formula is derived from the Pythagorean Theorem and is used to find the length of a line segment. See [link] and [link] .
  • The midpoint formula provides a method of finding the coordinates of the midpoint dividing the sum of the x -coordinates and the sum of the y -coordinates of the endpoints by 2. See [link] and [link] .

Section exercises

Verbal

Is it possible for a point plotted in the Cartesian coordinate system to not lie in one of the four quadrants? Explain.

Answers may vary. Yes. It is possible for a point to be on the x -axis or on the y -axis and therefore is considered to NOT be in one of the quadrants.

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Describe the process for finding the x- intercept and the y -intercept of a graph algebraically.

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Describe in your own words what the y -intercept of a graph is.

The y -intercept is the point where the graph crosses the y -axis.

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When using the distance formula d = ( x 2 x 1 ) 2 + ( y 2 y 1 ) 2 , explain the correct order of operations that are to be performed to obtain the correct answer.

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Algebraic

For each of the following exercises, find the x -intercept and the y -intercept without graphing. Write the coordinates of each intercept.

y = −3 x + 6

The x- intercept is ( 2 , 0 ) and the y -intercept is ( 0 , 6 ) .

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3 x 2 y = 6

The x- intercept is ( 2 , 0 ) and the y -intercept is ( 0 , −3 ) .

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Questions & Answers

Three charges q_{1}=+3\mu C, q_{2}=+6\mu C and q_{3}=+8\mu C are located at (2,0)m (0,0)m and (0,3) coordinates respectively. Find the magnitude and direction acted upon q_{2} by the two other charges.Draw the correct graphical illustration of the problem above showing the direction of all forces.
Kate Reply
To solve this problem, we need to first find the net force acting on charge q_{2}. The magnitude of the force exerted by q_{1} on q_{2} is given by F=\frac{kq_{1}q_{2}}{r^{2}} where k is the Coulomb constant, q_{1} and q_{2} are the charges of the particles, and r is the distance between them.
Muhammed
What is the direction and net electric force on q_{1}= 5µC located at (0,4)r due to charges q_{2}=7mu located at (0,0)m and q_{3}=3\mu C located at (4,0)m?
Kate Reply
what is the change in momentum of a body?
Eunice Reply
what is a capacitor?
Raymond Reply
Capacitor is a separation of opposite charges using an insulator of very small dimension between them. Capacitor is used for allowing an AC (alternating current) to pass while a DC (direct current) is blocked.
Gautam
A motor travelling at 72km/m on sighting a stop sign applying the breaks such that under constant deaccelerate in the meters of 50 metres what is the magnitude of the accelerate
Maria Reply
please solve
Sharon
8m/s²
Aishat
What is Thermodynamics
Muordit
velocity can be 72 km/h in question. 72 km/h=20 m/s, v^2=2.a.x , 20^2=2.a.50, a=4 m/s^2.
Mehmet
A boat travels due east at a speed of 40meter per seconds across a river flowing due south at 30meter per seconds. what is the resultant speed of the boat
Saheed Reply
50 m/s due south east
Someone
which has a higher temperature, 1cup of boiling water or 1teapot of boiling water which can transfer more heat 1cup of boiling water or 1 teapot of boiling water explain your . answer
Ramon Reply
I believe temperature being an intensive property does not change for any amount of boiling water whereas heat being an extensive property changes with amount/size of the system.
Someone
Scratch that
Someone
temperature for any amount of water to boil at ntp is 100⁰C (it is a state function and and intensive property) and it depends both will give same amount of heat because the surface available for heat transfer is greater in case of the kettle as well as the heat stored in it but if you talk.....
Someone
about the amount of heat stored in the system then in that case since the mass of water in the kettle is greater so more energy is required to raise the temperature b/c more molecules of water are present in the kettle
Someone
definitely of physics
Haryormhidey Reply
how many start and codon
Esrael Reply
what is field
Felix Reply
physics, biology and chemistry this is my Field
ALIYU
field is a region of space under the influence of some physical properties
Collete
what is ogarnic chemistry
WISDOM Reply
determine the slope giving that 3y+ 2x-14=0
WISDOM
Another formula for Acceleration
Belty Reply
a=v/t. a=f/m a
IHUMA
innocent
Adah
pratica A on solution of hydro chloric acid,B is a solution containing 0.5000 mole ofsodium chlorid per dm³,put A in the burret and titrate 20.00 or 25.00cm³ portion of B using melting orange as the indicator. record the deside of your burret tabulate the burret reading and calculate the average volume of acid used?
Nassze Reply
how do lnternal energy measures
Esrael
Two bodies attract each other electrically. Do they both have to be charged? Answer the same question if the bodies repel one another.
JALLAH Reply
No. According to Isac Newtons law. this two bodies maybe you and the wall beside you. Attracting depends on the mass och each body and distance between them.
Dlovan
Are you really asking if two bodies have to be charged to be influenced by Coulombs Law?
Robert
like charges repel while unlike charges atttact
Raymond
What is specific heat capacity
Destiny Reply
Specific heat capacity is a measure of the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius (or Kelvin). It is measured in Joules per kilogram per degree Celsius (J/kg°C).
AI-Robot
specific heat capacity is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius or kelvin
ROKEEB
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Source:  OpenStax, Algebra and trigonometry. OpenStax CNX. Nov 14, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11758/1.6
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