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How to Find the Midpoint: Do You Find the Average of the Coordinates?

When you want to find the midpoint of a line segment and you know the coordinates of the two points, you need to calculate the average of each coordinate. On a coordinate plane, a point is defined by its vertical and horizontal distance from the origin, or (0, 0). For example, a point of (4, 6) means the point is four units to the right of the origin and 6 units up from the origin.

Instructions

- 1
  Add the x-coordinates of the two points. For example, if the line starts at (3, 1) and goes through (9, 5), add 3 and 9 to get 12.
- 2
  Divide the result by 2 to find the x-coordinate of the midpoint. In this example, divide 12 by 2 to get 6 as the x-coordinate of the midpoint.
- 3
  Add the y-coordinates of the two points. For example, if the line starts at (3, 1) and goes through (9, 5), add 1 and 5 to get 6.
- 4
  Divide the result by 2 to find the y-coordinate of the midpoint. In this example, divide 6 by 2 to get 3 as the y-coordinate of the midpoint.
- 5
  Combine the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate to find the midpoint of the line segment. In this example, find that the line segment equals (6, 3).

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