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Ch. 2 - Functions and Graphs
Blitzer - College Algebra 8th Edition
Blitzer8th EditionCollege AlgebraISBN: 9780136970514Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 3, Problem 19

Find the midpoint of each line segment with the given endpoints. (6, 8) and (2, 4)

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Recall the midpoint formula for a line segment with endpoints \((x_1, y_1)\) and \((x_2, y_2)\): \[\text{Midpoint} = \left( \frac{\,x_1 + x_2}{2}, \frac{\,y_1 + y_2}{2} \right)\]
Identify the coordinates of the given endpoints: \( (x_1, y_1) = (6, 8) \) and \( (x_2, y_2) = (2, 4) \).
Substitute the values of \(x_1\), \(x_2\), \(y_1\), and \(y_2\) into the midpoint formula: \[\left( \frac{6 + 2}{2}, \frac{8 + 4}{2} \right)\]
Simplify the expressions inside the parentheses by adding the coordinates: \[\left( \frac{8}{2}, \frac{12}{2} \right)\]
Finally, divide each sum by 2 to find the midpoint coordinates: \[\left( 4, 6 \right)\]

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Midpoint Formula

The midpoint formula calculates the point exactly halfway between two given points in a coordinate plane. It is found by averaging the x-coordinates and the y-coordinates of the endpoints separately: Midpoint = ((x₁ + x₂)/2, (y₁ + y₂)/2). This formula helps locate the center of a line segment.
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Coordinate Plane

The coordinate plane is a two-dimensional surface defined by a horizontal x-axis and a vertical y-axis. Points are represented as ordered pairs (x, y), where x indicates horizontal position and y indicates vertical position. Understanding this system is essential for plotting points and calculating distances or midpoints.
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Line Segment

A line segment is a part of a line bounded by two distinct endpoints. Unlike a line, it has a fixed length. Knowing the endpoints of a line segment allows for calculations such as length, midpoint, and slope, which are fundamental in coordinate geometry.
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