Objectives
The aim of this investigation is for students to establish a formula for the coordinates of a midpoint through exploration. Students are then able to take their model and apply it to more challenging problems such as the set of midpoints between a fixed point A and a point on a line.
Vocabulary
- Midpoint
- Abscissa
- Ordinate
- Locus
About the Lesson
Students create two points on the Cartesian plane and then use the geometry tools to construct a midpoint. Students move their points around to specific locations and track the coordinates of the midpoint with a view to establishing a formula. Students test and practice using their midpoint formula and then extend to the path of a midpoint between a stationary point and a point on a line, including a quadratic function.