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2.1 Segment Bisectors

Goal
Bisect a segment. Find Geo-Activity Folding a Segment Bisector
the coordinates of the
midpoint of a segment. ● &*.
1 On a piece of paper, draw AB ●
2 Fold the paper so that point B
is on top of point A.
Key Words
• midpoint
• segment bisector
A
• bisect B
B

●
3 Label the point where the fold ●
4 Use a ruler to measure the
&* as point M.
intersects AB &**, MB
lengths of AM &*, and AB
&*.
What do you notice?

A A
M M
B B

&*. The midpoint of a

In the Geo-Activity, M is called the midpoint of AB
segment is the point on the segment that divides it into two congruent
segments.

Student Help A segment bisector is a segment, ray, line, or plane that intersects a
segment at its midpoint. To bisect a segment means to divide the
VOCABULARY TIP segment into two congruent segments.
Bi- means “two,” and
-sect means “to cut.”
So, bisect means “to C
cut in two.”
M
A M B A B
D

&*.
M is the midpoint of AB ^&*( is a bisector of AB
CD &*.

2.1 Segment Bisectors 53

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Student Help EXAMPLE 1 Find Segment Lengths

STUDY TIP &*. Find AM and MB.
M is the midpoint of AB 26
The midpoint of a
segment divides the A M B
segment in half. Solution
A M B &*, so AM and MB are each half the length of AB
M is the midpoint of AB &*.
If you know the length 1 1
1 AM 5 MB 5 }} p AB 5 }} p 26 5 13
&*, multiply AB by }}
of AB 2 2
2
to find AM and MB. ANSWER © AM 5 13 and MB 5 13.

EXAMPLE 2 Find Segment Lengths

&*. Find PS and RS.
P is the midpoint of RS
R 7 P S

Solution
&*, so PS 5 RP. Therefore, PS 5 7.
P is the midpoint of RS
&*.
You know that RS is twice the length of RP
RS 5 2 p RP 5 2 p 7 5 14

ANSWER © PS 5 7 and RS 5 14.

Find Segment Lengths

1. Find DE and EF. 2. Find NP and MP.

18

D E F M 11 N P

EXAMPLE 3 Use Algebra with Segment Lengths

Line l is a segment bisector of AB
&*. l
Find the value of x.
A 5x M 35 B

Solution
AM 5 MB Line l bisects AB
&* at point M.
5x 5 35 Substitute 5x for AM and 35 for MB.
5x 35
}} 5 }} Divide each side by 5.
5 5
x57 Simplify.

CHECK ✓Check your solution by substituting 7 for x.

5x 5 5(7) 5 35

54 Chapter 2 Segments and Angles

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Midpoints If you know the coordinates of the endpoints of a line

segment in a coordinate plane, you can find the coordinates of the
midpoint of the segment using the Midpoint Formula.

THE MIDPOINT FORMULA

Words The coordinates of the y
midpoint of a segment are the
Student Help averages of the x-coordinates
y2 B (x2, y2)

READING TIP and the y-coordinates of the

The numbers 1 and 2 in
x 1 and y2 are called
endpoints. y1 1 y2
2
M s x1 1 x2 y1 1 y2
2
, 2 d
subscripts. You read x 1 Symbols The midpoint of the
as “x sub 1” and y2 as segment joining
”y sub 2.” A(x1, y1) and B(x2, y2) y1 A(x1, y1)

1 2
1
x 1x y 1y
is M } }2 , }
1
}2 . x1 x1 1 x2 x2 x
2 2
2

EXAMPLE 4 Use the Midpoint Formula

&*.
Find the coordinates of the midpoint of AB
a. A(1, 2), B(7, 4) b. A(22, 3), B(5, 21)

Solution
Student Help First make a sketch. Then use the Midpoint Formula.

SKILLS REVIEW a. y b. y
For help plotting points
in a coordinate plane, A(22, 3)
see p. 664. B(7, 4) M
1
M
A(1, 2) 1 x
1
B(5, 21)
1 x

Let (x1, y1) 5 (1, 2) Let (x1, y1) 5 (22, 3)

and (x2, y2) 5 (7, 4). and (x2, y2) 5 (5, 21).

1 2 2 2 1 2 2 2
1
x 1x y 1y x 1x y 1y
M5 } }2 , }
1
}2 1
M5 } }2 , }
1
}2

5 1}}, }}2 5 1}}, }}2

117 214 22 1 5 3 1 (21)
2 2 2 2

5 1}}, 12
5 (4, 3) 3
2

Use the Midpoint Formula

&*. Then find the coordinates of its midpoint.

Sketch PQ
3. P(2, 5), Q(4, 3) 4. P(0, 22), Q(4, 0) 5. P(21, 2), Q(24, 1)

2.1 Segment Bisectors 55

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2.1 Exercises
Guided Practice
Vocabulary Check 1. In the diagram shown at the right, l
name the midpoint and a segment
&*.
bisector of AB A C B

Skill Check M is the midpoint of the segment. Find the segment lengths.
2. Find RM and MS. 3. Find FM and MG.

6 50

R M S F M G

4. Find MQ and PQ. 5. Find YM and YZ.

P 4 M P Y M 20 Z

&*. Find the value of the variable.

M is the midpoint of JK
6. 7.
J x 2 14 M 33 K J 16r M 48 K

&*.
Find the coordinates of the midpoint of PR
8. y 9. y 10. y
P (22, 1) R (5, 6)
1
P(2, 3)
4
1 x
R(4, 1)
1
P (23, 0) 2 x
1 x R (1, 23)

Practice and Applications

Extra Practice Recognizing Midpoints In Exercises 11–14, determine whether M is
See p. 677. &*. Explain your reasoning.
the midpoint of AB

11. 12.
A B M A M B

13. 14.
A B A
M M
B
15. &*, that is bisected by
Visualize It! Sketch a line segment, PQ
line l at point R.

56 Chapter 2 Segments and Angles

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Finding Segment Lengths M is the midpoint of the segment. Find

Homework Help the segment lengths.
Example 1: Exs. 16–19
16. Find KM and ML. 17. Find DM and ME.
Example 2: Exs. 20–23
Example 3: Exs. 26–29
38 82
Example 4: Exs. 30–35
K M L D M E

18. Find YM and MZ. 19. Find AM and MB.

17 2.7

Y M Z A M B

Finding Segment Lengths Line l bisects the segment. Find the

segment lengths.

20. Find CB and AB. 21. Find MP and MN.

l l

A 36 C B M P 15 N

22. Find FE and DE. 23. Find UT and ST.

l l

D 29.5 F E S 3.6 U T

Biking The Minuteman Bikeway is a 10.5 mile bike path that runs
from Arlington to Bedford, Massachusetts.
24. Caitlin and Laurie begin at opposite ends of the Minuteman
Bikeway and meet at the halfway point on the path. How far does
each rider bike?

25. Caitlin starts on the path 4.3 miles from the Arlington end. Laurie
starts on the path 3 miles from the Bedford end. How far will each
rider bike before reaching the halfway point on the path?

Using Algebra Find the value of the variable.

26. 27.
A 6p M 72 B A 19 M q17 B

28. 29.
IStudent Help A r23 M 15 B A 4 M 2s 1 6 B
[Link]

HOMEWORK HELP
&*.
Midpoint Formula Find the coordinates of the midpoint of PQ
Extra help with problem
solving in Exs. 30–35 is 30. P(0, 0), Q(4, 6) 31. P(3, 8), Q(7, 6) 32. P(25, 6), Q(9, 7)
at [Link]
33. P(212, 0), Q(6, 1) 34. P(24, 4), Q(4, 0) 35. P(3, 2), Q(27, 24)

2.1 Segment Bisectors 57

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Student Help Strike Zone In Exercises 36 and 37, use the information below.
In baseball, the strike zone is the region a baseball needs to pass
LOOK BACK through for the umpire to declare it a strike if the batter does not
For more about
baseball, see p. 50. swing. The top of the strike zone is a horizontal plane passing through
the midpoint of the top of the batter’s shoulders and the top of the
uniform pants when the player is in a batting stance.
© Source: Major League Baseball

36. Find the coordinate of T. 37. Find the coordinate of T.

60 63

T T
45
42

24
22

0 0

Student Help EXAMPLE Latitude-Longitude Coordinates

VOCABULARY TIP Find the coordinates of 122°W 120°W 118°W 116°W
Lines of latitude run the place halfway between
parallel to the Equator. N EVADA
Lines of longitude run
San Francisco (37.88N, 122.48W)
north-south. and Los Angeles (34.18N, 118.28W). San Francisco
38°N (37.88N, 122.48W)
Solution
CAL IF OR N I A
1 2
x1 1 x2 y1 1 y2
M5 } }, }}
2 2 36°N

5 1}}, }}2
37.88 1 34.18 122.48 1 118.28
2 2
34°N Los Angeles
5 (35.958N, 120.38W)
(34.18N, 118.28W)

ANSWER © The place halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles
has coordinates (35.958N, 120.38W).

Latitude-Longitude Coordinates Find the coordinates of the place

halfway between the two cities in California.
38. Fresno: (36.78N, 119.88W) 39. Bishop: (37.48N, 118.48W)
Napa: (38.38N, 122.38W) Los Angeles: (34.18N, 118.28W)

40. San Francisco: (37.88N, 122.48W) 41. Santa Barbara: (34.48N, 119.78W)
Palo Alto: (37.48N, 122.18W) Oakland: (37.88N, 122.38W)
58 Chapter 2 Segments and Angles
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&*,
42. Using Midpoints In the diagram below, B is the midpoint of AC
AB 5 9, and AD 5 25. Find CD.

25

A 9 B C D

&* is M(7, 5). The coordinates of

43. Challenge The midpoint of AB
point A are (4, 1). Find the coordinates of point B. Explain.

Standardized Test &*. What is the value of x?

44. Multiple Choice T is the midpoint of QR
Practice X
A 17 B 22
X
P 4x 2 10 T 78 R
X
C 29.5 D 88
X
45. Multiple Choice What is the midpoint of the segment joining
(2, 7) and (26, 2)?

X
F 122, }92}2 G (24, 9)
X X
H (22, 4) J 1}}, 222
X 2
9

Mixed Review Evaluating Statements Use the diagram at the right to determine
whether the statement is true or false. (Lessons 1.3, 1.5)
46. Point A lies on line m. l
47. Point E lies on line l. C
m
48. Points B, E, and C are collinear. F B
E
A
49. Lines l and m intersect at point E.
D
50. Point E is between points B and C.

51. Point F is between points A and B.

Classifying Angles Name the vertex and sides of the angle. Then
state whether it appears to be acute, right, obtuse, or straight.
(Lesson 1.6)
52. 53. 54.
A J P
K L P
R
B C

Algebra Skills Evaluating Expressions Evaluate the expression.

(Skills Review, p. 670)
1
55. 2 p 15 1 40 56. 120 2 35 p 3 57. }} p 50 1 145
2
5
58. }} p 16 2 20 59. 6 1 3 p 5 2 2 60. 11 p 4 1 7 2 20
4
61. 12 p 2 2 3 p 4 62. 5 2 10 p 6 1 1 63. 2 2 (3 1 4) p 5

2.1 Segment Bisectors 59