1.3: Use Midpoint and Distance Formulas

1.
3: Use Midpoint and Distance Formulas
Objectives:
1. To define midpoint and segment bisector
2. To use the Midpoint and Distance
Formulas
3. To construct a segment bisector with a
compass and straightedge
Perpendicular Bisector
1. Draw a segment.
Label the
endpoints A and B.
2. Using the same
compass setting,
draw two intersecting
arcs through the
segment, one
centered at A, the
other centered at B.
Label the
intersection points C
and D.
3. Draw a line
through points C
and D.
4. Label the new
point of
intersection M. Is
point is called the
midpoint.
Perpendicular Bisector: Video
Click on the
button to
watch a
video of the
construction.
Vocabulary
In you notes, define Midpoint Segment
each of these without bisector
your book. Draw a
picture for each word
and leave a bit of
space for additions
and revisions.
Midpoint
The midpoint of a segment is the point on the
segment that divides, or bisects, it into two
congruent segments.
Segment Bisector
A segment bisector is a point, ray, line, line
segment, or plane that intersects the segment at
its midpoint.
Example 1
Find DM if M is the midpoint of segment DA,
DM = 4x – 1, and MA = 3x + 3.
Work it out, A
labeling the parts of
the drawing
M
4x-1 = 3x+3
D X=4
4(4)-1
15
Example 2: SAT
In the figure shown, ABCD is
a rectangle with BC = 4
B C
and QR = 6. Points P, Q,
and R are different points P R
on a line (not shown) that Q
is parallel to AD. Points P
and Q are symmetric about
line AB and points Q and R A D
are symmetric about line Note: Figure not drawn to scale.
CD. What is PR?
8
Example 3
Segment OP lies on a real number line with
point O at –9 and point P at 3. Where is
the midpoint of the segment?
1 -3
O 2 4 6 6 4 1
3 5 5 3 2 P
- 10 -5 5
OR
-9+3 = -3
2
What if the endpoints of segment OP were at

x1 and x2? x1 + x2 = midpoint (the average)
2
In the Coordinate Plane
We could extend the
ts on the previous exercise by
ate Plane
putting the segment in
A: (-6.00, -2.00)
B: (6.00, 4.00) 4
B
the coordinate plane.
Midpoint: (0.00, 1.00)
Now we have two
dimensions and two
2
Midpoint
-5 5
sets of coordinates.
Each of these would
A
-2
have to be averaged
to find the coordinates
of the midpoint.
The Midpoint Formula
If A(x1,y1) and B(x2,y2)
are points in a
coordinate plane,
then the midpoint M
of AB has
coordinates
 x1  x2 y1  y2 
 , 
 2 2 
The Midpoint Formula
The coordinates of
the midpoint of a
segment are
basically the
averages of the x-
and y-coordinates of
the endpoints
Example 4
Find the midpoint of the segment with
endpoints at (-1, 5) and (3, 8).
(1, 7.5)
Example 5
The midpoint C of IN has coordinates (4, -3).
Find the coordinates of point I if point N is
at (10, 2).
So, in other words, (4,3) is the AVERAGE of (10,2)
and some other point. THINK ABOUT IT!
You could also graph it
(-2, -8)
Example 6
Use the Midpoint Formula multiple times to
find the coordinates of the points that
divide AB into four congruent segments.
A B
Parts of a Right Triangle
Which segment is the longest in any right

triangle? The Hypotenuse
The Pythagorean Theorem
In a right triangle, if a and b are
the lengths of the legs and c
is the length of the
hypotenuse, then c2 = a2 + b2.
Example 7
How high up on the wall will
a twenty-foot ladder reach
if the foot of the ladder is
placed five feet from the
wall?
52 + h2 = 202
25 + h2 = 400
h2 = √375
h = 19.4
The Distance Formula
Sometimes instead of finding a segment’s
midpoint, you want to find it’s length. Notice
how every non-vertical or non-horizontal
segment in the coordinate plane can be
turned into the hypotenuse of a right triangle.
Example 8
Graph AB with A(2, 1) and B(7, 8). Add
segments to your drawing to create right
triangle ABC. Now use the Pythagorean
Theorem to find AB.
52 + 72 = c2
25 + 49 = c2
74 = c2
8.6 = c
Distance Formula
In the previous problem, you found the
length of a segment by connecting it to a
right triangle on graph paper and then
applying the Pythagorean Theorem. But
what if the points are too far apart to be
conveniently graphed on a piece of
ordinary graph paper? For example, what
is the distance between the points (15, 37)
and (42, 73)? What we need is a formula!
To find the distance between
points A and B shown at the B
right, you can simply count 8
the squares on the side AC 6
and the squares on side BC,

then use the Pythagorean 4
Theorem to find AB. But if

the distances are too great 2
to count conveniently, there A C

is a simple way to find the 5
lengths. Just use the Ruler

Postulate.
You can find the horizontal
distance subtracting the x- 8
B
coordinates of points A and

B: AC = |7 – 2| = 5. Similarly, 6
to find the vertical distance

BC, subtract the y- 4
coordinates of points A and 2
B: BC = |8 – 1| = 7. Now you A C
can use the Pythagorean 5
Theorem to find AB.

Example 9
Generalize this result (x 2, y 2)
8
B
and come up with a
formula for the
6
distance between
any two points 4
(x1, y1) and (x2, y2).

2
(x 1, y 1) (x 2, y 1)
A C
5
If the coordinates of
points A and B are
(x1, y1) and (x2, y2),
then
AB  x2  x1 2   y2  y1 2
MEMORIZE this formula!
Example 10
To the nearest tenth of a unit, what is the
approximate length of RS, with endpoints
R(3, 1) and S(-1, -5)?
WORK IT OUT!
8.9 Did you get it?

Example 11
A coordinate grid is placed over a map. City
A is located at (-3, 2) and City B is located
at (4, 8). If City C is at the midpoint
between City A and City B, what is the
approximate distance in coordinate units
from City A to City C?
THINK about it and work it out
4.6
Example 12
Points on a 3-Dimensional
coordinate grid can be
located with coordinates of
the form (x, y, z). Finding
the midpoint of a segment
or the length of a segment
in 3-D is analogous to
finding them in 2-D, you
just have 3 coordinates
with which to work.
Example 12
Find the midpoint and
the length of the
segment with
endpoints (2, 5, 8) and
(-3, 1, 2).
(-.5, 3, 5)

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3: Use Midpoint and Distance Formulas

What if the endpoints of segment OP were at

You could also graph it

Which segment is the longest in any right

the squares on the side AC 6

and the squares on side BC,

Theorem to find AB. But if

to count conveniently, there A C

lengths. Just use the Ruler

coordinates of points A and

to find the vertical distance

coordinates of points A and 2

Theorem to find AB.

(x1, y1) and (x2, y2).

8.9 Did you get it?

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