Question

plot points a (-8,7) and b(6,-9). mark the halfway point of AB and label it point M. what are the coordinates of M?

Answer 1

$\text{We know that the midpoint, M, of the line segmant joining the points }A(x_1,y_1)\\ \text{and }B(x_2,y_2)\text{ is given by the  coordinates}\\ \\ M=\left ( \frac{x_1+x_2}{2}, \ \ \frac{y_1+y_2}{2} \right )\\ \\ \text{so using this fact, the coordinates of the midpoint M of the line segment }\overline{AB}\\ \text{joining the points }A(-8,7)\text{ and }B(6,-9) \text{ is given by}$

$M=\left ( \frac{-8+6}{2},\frac{7+(-9)}{2} \right )\\ \\ \Rightarrow M=\left ( \frac{-2}{2},\frac{7-9}{2} \right )\\ \\ \Rightarrow M=\left ( -1,-1 \right )\\ \\ \text{So the coordinates of the midpoint are: }$

M (-1, -1)