Expert: Steve Holleran - 11/27/2007

Question
Use the Midpoint formula three times to find expressions for the three points that divide the line segment joining (x1, y1)and (x2, y2) into four equal parts?

Answer
Hi Keisha,

Okay, to find the midpoint coordinates of a segment, we just average the x's and the y's.


So, if the endpoints are A(x1,y1) and B(x2,y2)

Then The midpoint of the segment, C, is (x1+x2/2, y1+y2/2):


A-----------D---------------C------------E----------------B

Then D would be :

([ x1 + (x1+x2/2)] / 2 , [y1 + (y1+y2/2)/2])

and E would be :

([(x1+x2/2) + x2]/2  , [(y1+y2/2) + y2] / 2)

Pretty messy, but that's pretty much it

Steve