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Midpoint of a line segment
Definition: A point on a line segment that divides it into two equal parts
Try this
Adjust the line segment below by dragging an orange dot on an endpoint and see how the point M
always divides the segment PQ into two equal halves.
(If there is no image below, see support page.)
See the figure above. The point M is the midpoint of the
line segment PQ.
Only a line segment can have a midpoint. A
line
cannot since it goes on indefinitely in both directions, and so has no midpoint.
A ray
cannot because it has only one end, and hence no midpoint.
When a line cuts another line into two equal parts it is called a
bisector.
The bisector will cut the line at its midpoint. The midpoint of a line segment can be found using a compass and straightedge.
See Constructing the perpendicular bisector of a line segment.
Other line topics
(C) 2007 Copyright John Page
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