GMAT Math : Midpoint Formula

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GMAT Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

← Previous 1

Example Question #1 :Coordinate Geometry

Which of the following quadrants can contain the midpoint of a line segment with endpointsandfor some nonzero value of?

Possible Answers:

Quadrants II and IV

Quadrants I and IV

Quadrants I and III

Quadrants III and IV

Quadrants II and III

Correct answer:

Quadrants II and IV

Explanation:

The midpoint of the line segment with endpointsandis, or

If, then the-coordinate is negative and the-coordinate is positive, so the midpoint is in Quadrant II. If, the reverse is true, so the midpoint is in Quadrant IV.

Example Question #2 :Coordinate Geometry

The midpoint of a line segment with endpointsandis. Sove for.

Possible Answers:

It cannot be determined from the information given.

Correct answer:

It cannot be determined from the information given.

Explanation:

The midpoint of a line segment with endpointsis

.

Substitute the coordinates of the endpoints, then set each equation to the appropriate midpoint coordinate.

-coordinate:

-coordinate:

Simplify each, then solve the system of linear equations in two variables:

The two linear equations turn out to be equivalent, meaning that there are infinitely many solutions to the system. Therefore, insufficient information is given to answer the question.

Example Question #3 :Coordinate Geometry

Find the midpoint of the pointsand.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Add the corresponding points together and divide both values by 2:

(\frac{2+4}{2},\frac{9+3}{2}) = (3, 6)

Example Question #4 :Coordinate Geometry

What is the midpoint ofand?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Add the x-values and divide by 2, and then add the y-values and divide by 2. Be careful of the negatives!

Example Question #5 :Coordinate Geometry

Consider segmentwhich passes through the pointsand.

What are the correct coordinates for the midpoint of?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Midpoint formula is as follows:

Plug in and calculate:

Example Question #6 :Coordinate Geometry

Segmenthas endpoints ofand. If the midpoint ofis given by point, what are the coordinates of point?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Midpoints can be found using the following:

Plug in our points (-6,8) and (4,26) to find the midpoint.

Example Question #1 :Midpoint Formula

What are the coordinates of the mipdpoint of the line segmentifand

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The midpoint formula is

Example Question #8 :Coordinate Geometry

The quadrilateral with verticesis a trapezoid. What are the endpoints of its midsegment?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The midsegment of a trapezoid is the segment whose endpoints are the midpoints of its legs - its nonparallel opposite sides. These two sides are the ones with endpointsand. The midpoint of each can be found by taking the means of the- and-coordinates:

The midsegment is the segment that has endpoints (2,2) and (19,2)

Example Question #9 :Coordinate Geometry

The midpoint of a line segment with endpointsandis. What is?

Possible Answers:

It cannot be determined from the information given.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

If the midpoint of a line segment with endpointsandis, then by the midpoint formula,

and

.

The first equation can be simplified as follows:

or

The second can be simplified as follows:

or

This is a system of linear equations.can be calculated by subtracting:

Example Question #10 :Coordinate Geometry

If the midpoint ofisandis at, what are the coordinates of?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Midpoint formula is as follows:

In this case, we have x,y and the value of the midpoint. We need to findx' and y'

V is at (2,9) and the midpoint is at (6,7)

and

So we have (10,5) as point U

← Previous 1

Tired of practice problems?

Try live online GMAT prep today.

1-on-1 Tutoring
Live Online Class
1-on-1 + Class
Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors