The point halfway between the endpoints of a line

segment is called the midpoint.

A midpoint divides a line segment into two equal
parts.
In Coordinate Geometry, there is more than one
way to determine the midpoint of a line segment.  
 Method 1

You may find the midpoint by simply dividing the length of the
segment by 2 and counting that value from either of the
endpoints.  

Find the midpoints of line segments

AB and CD.

The length of line segment AB is 8 (by

counting).  The midpoint is 4 units from
either endpoint.  On the graph, this point
is (1,4).

The length of line segment CD is 3 (by

counting).  The midpoint is 1.5 units
from either endpoint.  On the graph, this
point is (2,1.5)
Method 2

If the line segments are diagonal, more thought must be paid

to the solution.  When you are finding the coordinates of the
midpoint of a segment, you are actually finding the average
(mean) of the x-coordinates and the average (mean) of the y-
coordinates.

-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30

a b

ab
2
 Midpoint Formula

Midpoint Coordinates =

x x y y 
 1
, 2
 1 2

 2 2 

The Midpoint Formula works for all line segments:  vertical,

horizontal or diagonal.
Example 1 - Find a Midpoint on a Number Line

Q R

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Method 1

The distance from -3 to 4 is 7. Half of 7 is 3.5, which you

add to -3. The midpoint is 0.5.

+7
+3.5
Q R

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Example 1 - Find a Midpoint on a Number Line

Q R

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Method 2
Use the midpoint formula

3 4 1
  0.5
2 2
Example 2 – Find the Coordinates of a Midpoint
TEMPERATURE Find the coordinate of the midpoint PQ
The coordinates of P and Q are -20 and 40. Let M be the
midpoint of PQ
Q = 40

 20  40
M
2
20
 or 10
2 P = -20

Find the coordinates of M, the midpoint of PQ, for

P(-1, 2) and Q(6, 1)
Let P be (x1, y1) and Q be (x2, y2)

x x y  y   1  6 2  1
M ,
1 2
 1
M  2
, 
 2 2   2 2 
5 3
 M , 
2 2
Example 3 - A Different Problem
Find the Coordinates of an Endpoint
Find the coordinates of X if Y(-2, 2) is the midpoint of XQ, and Q has the
coordinates (2, 8)

Method 2
Let Z be (x2, y2) in the Midpoint Formula

 x1  2 y1  8 
Y (2,2)   , 
 2 2 
Write two equations to find the coordinates of x
x 2 y 8
2 1
2 1

2 2
4 x 2 1
4  y 8
1

6 x 1
4 y 1
A Different Approach to a Different Problem
Find the Coordinates of an Endpoint
Find the coordinates of X if Y(-2, 2) is the midpoint of XQ,
and Q has the coordinates (2, 8)

Method 1

First, let’s try to Q

visualize the problem.

This will give you an

idea of where X is Y
located.
Example 3 – Use Algebra to Find Measures
A is the midpoint of segment BC.
Find x and the measures of AB
and AC.
2x + 14
C
3x + 6
A
B
Exercises
Given the endpoints of a line segment, find the midpoint

1) (7 , 4), (9, −1) 2) (8, −9), (0, 5)

3) (1, −7), (1, −12) 4) (0, 4), (−4, -12)

5) (−4, 2), (2, −3) 6) (5, 9), (−1, 9)

7) (−7, 8), (−2, −9) 8) (2, −11), (−9, 0)

9) (4, −1), (2, −7) 10) (−4, −6), (3, −6)

11) (14, 0), (−7, 5) 12) (14, −8), (12, −1)

13) (−4, 12), (−7, −2)

Given the midpoint and one endpoint of a line segment,
find the other endpoint.

1) Endpoint:(−9, −1), midpoint:(8, 14)

2) Endpoint:(10, 12), midpoint:(6, 9)

3) Endpoint:(−8, −10), midpoint:(10, −7)

4) Endpoint:(−11, 9), midpoint:(3, −11)

5) Endpoint:(−2, 7), midpoint:(12, −10)

6) Endpoint:(11, 14), midpoint:(10, 14)

7) Endpoint:(14, −8), midpoint:(5, 8)

8) Endpoint:(−9, 0), midpoint:(10, −7)