C(2, –5) and D(–4, –7) are the endpoints of a line segment. What is the midpoint M of that line segment? Write the coordinates as decimals or integers.

1 answer

To find the midpoint \( M \) of the line segment with endpoints \( C(2, -5) \) and \( D(-4, -7) \), you can use the midpoint formula:

\[ M\left( \frac{x_1 + x_2}{2}, \frac{y_1 + y_2}{2} \right) \]

In this case, the coordinates of point \( C \) are \( (x_1, y_1) = (2, -5) \) and the coordinates of point \( D \) are \( (x_2, y_2) = (-4, -7) \).

Now plug these values into the formula:

\[ M\left( \frac{2 + (-4)}{2}, \frac{-5 + (-7)}{2} \right) \]

Calculating the x-coordinate:

\[ \frac{2 - 4}{2} = \frac{-2}{2} = -1 \]

Calculating the y-coordinate:

\[ \frac{-5 - 7}{2} = \frac{-12}{2} = -6 \]

Thus, the midpoint \( M \) of the line segment is:

\[ M(-1, -6) \]

So the coordinates of the midpoint are \( (-1, -6) \).