To find the midpoint \( A \) of the line segment \( \overline{MB} \), we can use the formula for the midpoint:
\[ A = \frac{M + B}{2} \]
Given the values:
- \( M = 5 \)
- \( B = 9 \)
Substituting these values into the formula:
\[ A = \frac{5 + 9}{2} = \frac{14}{2} = 7 \]
Therefore, point \( A \) lies at \( 7 \) on the number line.