To find the midpoint of line segment AB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ , Fernando calculated 6.4+(−2.5)=3.9 . What should his next step be?

Question

Possible Answers:
Fernando should divide 3.9 by 2, then repeat both steps using the y-values. Fernando should divide 3.9 by 2, then repeat both steps using the y -values. Fernando has already made a mistake. He should have subtracted the x-values to get 8.9. Fernando has already made a mistake. He should have subtracted the x -values to get 8.9. Fernando should subtract the y-values. Fernando should subtract the y -values. Fernando has already made a mistake. He should have calculated 6.4+2.5=8.9 .

Answer 1

To find the midpoint of a line segment defined by the endpoints A(x1, y1) and B(x2, y2), you need to use the midpoint formula:

Midpoint M = ((x1 + x2)/2 , (y1 + y2)/2).

From Fernando's calculation, he correctly added the x-values: 6.4 + (-2.5) = 3.9. However, this calculation does not align with properly finding the midpoint, as he should be averaging the x-coordinates, not simply adding them.

His next step should be to calculate the average of the x-values by dividing the sum by 2, and then he would need to calculate the y-values using a similar approach.

Therefore, the correct option is: Fernando should divide 3.9 by 2, then repeat both steps using the y-values.