{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T10:58:35+00:00","modifiedTime":"2016-03-26T10:58:35+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T17:55:50+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Math","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33720"},"slug":"math","categoryId":33720},{"name":"Trigonometry","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33729"},"slug":"trigonometry","categoryId":33729}],"title":"How to Find the Midpoint of a Line Segment","strippedTitle":"how to find the midpoint of a line segment","slug":"how-to-find-the-midpoint-of-a-line-segment","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"The middle of a line segment is its midpoint. To find the midpoint of a line segment, you just calculate the averages of the coordinates — easy as pie. The midp","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"<p>The middle of a line segment is its <i>midpoint.</i><i> </i>To find the midpoint of a line segment, you just calculate the averages of the coordinates — easy as pie.</p>\n<p>The midpoint, <i>M</i>, of a segment with endpoints (<i>x</i><sub>1</sub>,<i>y</i><sub>1</sub>) and (<i>x</i><sub>2</sub>,<i>y</i><sub>2</sub>) is</p>\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/438808.image0.jpg\" width=\"253\" height=\"75\" alt=\"image0.jpg\"/>\n<p>If you want to know the midpoint of the segment with endpoints (–4,–1) and (2,5), then plug the numbers into the midpoint formula, and you get a midpoint of (–1,2):</p>\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/438809.image1.jpg\" width=\"433\" height=\"75\" alt=\"image1.jpg\"/>\n<p>See how this segment looks in graph form in the following figure.</p>\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/438810.image2.jpg\" width=\"532\" height=\"400\" alt=\"image2.jpg\"/>","description":"<p>The middle of a line segment is its <i>midpoint.</i><i> </i>To find the midpoint of a line segment, you just calculate the averages of the coordinates — easy as pie.</p>\n<p>The midpoint, <i>M</i>, of a segment with endpoints (<i>x</i><sub>1</sub>,<i>y</i><sub>1</sub>) and (<i>x</i><sub>2</sub>,<i>y</i><sub>2</sub>) is</p>\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/438808.image0.jpg\" width=\"253\" height=\"75\" alt=\"image0.jpg\"/>\n<p>If you want to know the midpoint of the segment with endpoints (–4,–1) and (2,5), then plug the numbers into the midpoint formula, and you get a midpoint of (–1,2):</p>\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/438809.image1.jpg\" width=\"433\" height=\"75\" alt=\"image1.jpg\"/>\n<p>See how this segment looks in graph form in the following figure.</p>\n<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/438810.image2.jpg\" width=\"532\" height=\"400\" alt=\"image2.jpg\"/>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":8985,"name":"Mary Jane Sterling","slug":"mary-jane-sterling","description":" <p><b>Mary Jane Sterling</b> is the author of <i>Algebra I For Dummies, Algebra Workbook For Dummies,</i> and many other <i>For Dummies</i> books. She taught at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois for more than 30 years, teaching algebra, business calculus, geometry, and finite mathematics. 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How to Find the Midpoint of a Line Segment

By: Mary Jane Sterling and

Updated: 03-26-2016

From The Book: Trigonometry For Dummies

Trigonometry For Dummies

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The middle of a line segment is its midpoint. To find the midpoint of a line segment, you just calculate the averages of the coordinates — easy as pie.

The midpoint, M, of a segment with endpoints (x₁,y₁) and (x₂,y₂) is

If you want to know the midpoint of the segment with endpoints (–4,–1) and (2,5), then plug the numbers into the midpoint formula, and you get a midpoint of (–1,2):

See how this segment looks in graph form in the following figure.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

Trigonometry For Dummies ,

About the book author:

Mary Jane Sterling is the author of Algebra I For Dummies and many other For Dummies titles. She has been teaching mathematics at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, for more than 30 years and has loved working with future business executives, physical therapists, teachers, and many others.

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