Handout 1

The Distance and Midpoint Formula

Definition: Rectangular Coordinate System

The Rectangular Coordinate System is also known as the Cartesian Coordinate System, is based on a grid and formed by
two perpendicular number lines, the horizontal number line called the 𝑥-axis and the vertical number line called the 𝑦-
axis. Every point on the rectangular coordinate system can be identified by unique 𝑥 and 𝑦 coordinates.

The two perpendicular number lines intersect at the point (0,0) and is called the origin. The rectangular coordinate system
is divided into four regions. The regions are called quadrants and labeled in roman numerals as follows: Quadrant I,
Quadrant II, Quadrant III, and Quadrant IV, as shown in the figure below:

Every point in the coordinate plane corresponds to a unique ordered pair (𝑥, 𝑦), where 𝑥 and 𝑦 are any real numbers.

Definition: Ordered Pairs

Ordered pairs are pairs of numbers used to locate a point in the rectangular coordinate plane and written in the form
(𝑥, 𝑦), where 𝑥 is the 𝑥-coordinate (also called the abscissa) and 𝑦 is the 𝑦-coordinate (called the ordinate).

The location of the ordered pair in the quadrants will determine the sign of the x and y coordinates, as shown in the figure
above. Thus, the signs of the ordered pairs (𝑥, 𝑦) are summarized as follows,

• If (𝑥, 𝑦) is in Quadrant I then both x and y are positive.

• If (𝑥, 𝑦) is in Quadrant II then x is negative and y is positive.
• If (𝑥, 𝑦) is in Quadrant III then both x and y are negative.
• If (𝑥, 𝑦) is in Quadrant IV then x is positive and y is negative.

To locate a point in the coordinate plane, use a process called graphing a point. This process can also be called plotting
a point. Always start at the origin and move right or left to locate the 𝑥-coordinate and move up or down to locate the 𝑦-
coordinate.

To graph or plot (−2, 5) on a coordinate plane, start at the origin and move 2 units to the left, because the 𝑥-coordinate
−2 is negative, then move up 5 units because the 𝑦-coordinate 5 is positive and draw a dot. Notice that the point is in
quadrant II. To graph the point (4, 1), start at the origin and move 4 units to the right and 1 unit up. Similarly, graph the
points (−1, −1) and (2, −3), as shown in the figure below.
The previous section taught how to plot points in the rectangular coordinate plane. This section teaches how to find the
distance between any two points in the plane. For example, to find the distance of points (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) and (𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ) consider the
following formula:

Definition: Distance Formula

The distance 𝑑 between two points, 𝑃(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) and 𝑃2 (𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ) in the plane is given by:

𝑑 = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2

Example 1:

Find the distance between the points (3, −2) and (−1, −5).

Solution:
Let 𝑃1 (3, −2) and 𝑃2 (−1, −5) be two points in the plane.
Hence
𝑥1 = 3, 𝑦1 = −2, 𝑥2 = −1 and 𝑦2 = −5.

Using the distance formula with the given values:

𝑑 = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2
2
𝑑 = √(−1 − 3)2 + (−5 − (−2))

𝑑 = √(−4)2 + (−5 + 2)2

𝑑 = √16 + (−3)2
𝑑 = √16 + 9
𝑑 = √25
𝑑 = 5 units
Therefore, the distance between (3, −2) and (−1, −5) is 5 units.
Example 2:

Find the distance between the points (−6, −7) and (3, 0).

Solution:
Let 𝑃1 (−6, −7) and 𝑃2 (3, 0) be points in the plane.
Hence 𝑥1 = −1, 𝑦1 = −7, 𝑥2 = 3 and 𝑦2 = 0.

Using the distance formula for the given values:

2
𝑑 = √(3 − (−1)) + (−7 − 0)2

𝑑 = √(3 + 1)2 + (−7)2

𝑑 = √(4)2 + 49
𝑑 = √16 + 49
𝑑 = √65 units
Therefore, the distance between (−6, −7) and (3, 0) is √65 units.

Example 3:

Find the distance between the points (−5, 2) and (3, 4).

Solution:
Let 𝑃1 (−5, 2) and 𝑃2 (3, 4) be points in the plane.
Hence 𝑥1 = −5, 𝑦1 = 2, 𝑥2 = 3 and 𝑦2 = 4.

Using the distance formula for the given values:

2
𝑑 = √(3 − (−5)) + (4 − 2)2
 𝑑 = √(3 + 5)2 + (2)2

𝑑 = √(8)2 + 4
𝑑 = √64 + 4
𝑑 = √68
𝑑 = √(4)(17)

𝑑 = 2√17 units
Therefore, the distance between (−5, 2) and (3, 4) is 2√17 units.

Example 4
1 10 14 5
Find the distance between the points (2 , − 4 ) and (− 4 , − 2).

Solution:
1 10 14 5
Let 𝑃1 (2 , − 4 ) and 𝑃2 (− 4 , − 2)be the points the plane.
1 10 14 5
Hence 𝑥1 = 2, 𝑦1 = − 2 , 𝑥2 = − and 𝑦2 = − 2
4

Using the distance formula for the given values:

2
14 1 2 5 10
𝑑 = √(− − 2) + (− 2 − (− 4 ))
4

−14 − 2 2 5 10 2
𝑑 = √( ) + (− + )
4 2 4

−16 2 −10 + 10 2
𝑑 = √( ) +( )
4 4

−16 2 0 2
𝑑 = √( ) + (2)
2

𝑑 = √(−4)2 + 0
𝑑 = √16
𝑑 = 4 units
1 10 14 5
Therefore, the distance between (2 , − 4 ) and (− 4
, − 2) is 4 units.

Definition: Midpoint Formula

The midpoint of the line segment whose endpoints are the two points (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) and (𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ) is given by:

𝑥1 + 𝑥2 𝑦1 + 𝑦2
( , )
2 2

To find the midpoint of a line segment, we find the average of the 𝑥-coordinates and the average of the 𝑦-coordinates
of the endpoints.

Example 1
Find the midpoint of a line segment whose endpoints are (−5, −4) and (7, 2).

Solution:
Let 𝑃1 (−5, −4) and 𝑃2 (7, 2) be points on a plane. Hence, 𝑥1 = −5, 𝑦1 = −4, 𝑥2 = 7 and 𝑦2 = 2.

The midpoint of ̅̅̅̅̅̅

𝑃1 𝑃2 is:
𝑥1 +𝑥2 𝑦1 +𝑦2 −5+7 −4+2
( 2 , 2 )=( 2 , 2 )
𝑥1 +𝑥2 𝑦1 +𝑦2 2 −2
( , ) = (2 , )
2 2 2
𝑥1 +𝑥2 𝑦1 +𝑦2
( , ) = (1, −1)
2 2

Therefore, the midpoint of ̅̅̅̅̅̅

𝑃1 𝑃2 is at (1, −1).

APPLIED PROBLEMS

Classifying Triangles Using Distance Formula:

Example 1:
What kind of triangle is represented by the vertices: (1, 3), (4, 6), (6, 1)?
Solution:
Let 𝐴 = (1, 3), 𝐵 = (4, 6) and 𝐶 = (6, 1) be the vertices of
△ 𝐴𝐵𝐶. Plot the points in the coordinate plane.

The figure shows that the sides of △ 𝐴𝐵𝐶 are 𝐴𝐵

̅̅̅̅, 𝐵𝐶
̅̅̅̅ and 𝐴𝐶
̅̅̅̅ .
Find the distance of each side.

For 𝐴𝐵
̅̅̅̅ , 𝑥1 = 1, 𝑦1 = 3, 𝑥2 = 4 and 𝑦2 = 6.

̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = √(4 − 1)2 + (6 − 3)2
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = √(3)2 + (3)2
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = √9 + 9
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = √18
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = √(2)(9)
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = 3√2 units

For 𝐵𝐶
̅̅̅̅ , 𝑥1 = 4, 𝑦1 = 6, 𝑥2 = 6 and 𝑦2 = 1.

̅̅̅̅ = √(6 − 4)2 + (1 − 6)2

𝐵𝐶
̅̅̅̅ = √(2)2 + (−5)2
𝐴𝐵
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = √4 + 25
̅̅̅̅ = √29 units
𝐵𝐶

For 𝐴𝐶
̅̅̅̅ , 𝑥1 = 1, 𝑦1 = 3, 𝑥2 = 6 and 𝑦2 = 1.

̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐶 = √(6 − 1)2 + (1 − 3)2
̅̅̅̅ = √(5)2 + (−2)2
𝐴𝐵
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = √25 + 5
𝐴𝐶 = √29 units
̅̅̅̅

Since the triangle has two sides with equal length, 𝐵𝐶 𝐴𝐶 , then the triangle is an isosceles triangle.
̅̅̅̅ = ̅̅̅̅

Example 2:
Prove that the points (−3, −4), (2, 6) and (−6, 10) are vertices of a right triangle.

Solution:
Let 𝐴 = (−3, −4), 𝐵 = (2, 6) and 𝐶 = (−6, 10) be the vertices of
△ 𝐴𝐵𝐶. Plot the points in the coordinate plane.

The figure shows that the sides of △ 𝐴𝐵𝐶 are 𝐴𝐵

̅̅̅̅, 𝐵𝐶
̅̅̅̅ and 𝐴𝐶
̅̅̅̅ .
Find the distance of each side.

For 𝐴𝐵
̅̅̅̅ , 𝑥1 = −3, 𝑦1 = −4, 𝑥2 = 2 and 𝑦2 = 6

̅̅̅̅ = √(2 − (−3))2 + (6 − (−4))2

𝐴𝐵
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = √(2 + 3)2 + (6 + 4)2
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = √(5)2 + (10)2
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = √25 + 100
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = √125 units

For 𝐵𝐶
̅̅̅̅ , 𝑥1 = 2, 𝑦1 = 6, 𝑥2 = −6, and 𝑦2 = 10

̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐶 = √(−6 − 2)2 + (10 − 6)2
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = √(−8)2 + (4)2
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = √64 + 16
̅̅̅̅ = √80 units
𝐴𝐵

For 𝐴𝐶
̅̅̅̅ , 𝑥1 = −3, 𝑦1 = −4, 𝑥2 = −6 and 𝑦2 = 10

̅̅̅̅ = √(−6 − (−3))2 + (10 − (−4))2

𝐴𝐶
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = √(−6 + 3)2 + (10 + 4)2
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = √(−3)2 + (14)2
̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 = √9 + 196
𝐴𝐶 = √205 units
̅̅̅̅
 To prove that the points are vertices of a right triangle we are going to use the Pythagorean Theorem which states
that the square of the longest side of a right triangle is equal to the sum of the squares of the two other side.
Hence:
̅̅̅̅ )2 = (𝐴𝐵
(𝐴𝐶 ̅̅̅̅ )2 + (𝐵𝐶
̅̅̅̅ )2
2 2 2
(√205) = (√125) + (√80)
205 = 125 + 80
205 = 205

Since the Pythagorean theorem was satisfied, then the points (−3, −4), (2, 6) and (−6, 10) are vertices of a right
triangle.

Miscellaneous Problems

Example 1:
The points (4, 4) and (1, −1) is equidistant to a point 𝑃(𝑥, 0). Find the value of 𝑥.

Solution:
Let 𝐴(4, 4) and 𝐵(1, −1) be the points that are equidistant to 𝑃. Since 𝐴 and 𝐵 are equidistant to 𝑃, then ̅̅̅̅ 𝑃𝐵 .
𝑃𝐴 = ̅̅̅̅
Write the equation for the length of 𝑃𝐴 and 𝑃𝐵 using the distance formula.
̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅

For ̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝐴, 𝑥1 = 𝑥, 𝑦1 = 0, 𝑥2 = 4 and 𝑦2 = 4.

̅̅̅̅ = √(4 − 𝑥)2 + (4 − 0)2

𝑃𝐴
̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝐴 = √16 − 8𝑥 + 𝑥 2 + (4)2
̅̅̅̅ = √𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 16 + 16
𝑃𝐴
̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝐴 = √𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 32

For ̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝐵, 𝑥1 = 𝑥, 𝑦1 = 0, 𝑥2 = 1 and 𝑦2 = −1

̅̅̅̅ = √(1 − 𝑥)2 + (−1 − 0)2

𝑃𝐵
̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝐴 = √1 − 2𝑥 + 𝑥 2 + (−1)2
̅̅̅̅ = √𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1 + 1
𝑃𝐴
̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝐵 = √𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2

Equate ̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝐴 and ̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝐵:

̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝐴 = ̅̅̅̅
𝑃𝐵
√𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 32 = √𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2

Square both sides of the equation:

2 2
(√𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 32) = (√𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2)
𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 32 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2

Solve for 𝑥:

𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 32 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2
𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 32 − 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 32 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 2 − 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 32
−6𝑥 = −30
𝑥=5

Example 3:
The distance between the points (−2, −2) and (𝑥, 2) is 5 units. What possible value/s of 𝑥 will satisfy this condition?

Solution:
Let 𝑃1 = (−2, −2) and 𝑃2 = (𝑥, 2) be the points on the plane and 𝑑 = 5 be the distance between these points.
Hence, 𝑥1 = −2, 𝑦1 = −2, 𝑥2 = 𝑥 and 𝑦2 = 2. Use the distance formula to solve for 𝑥.

𝑑 = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2
2 2
5 = √(𝑥 − (−2)) + (2 − (−2))
5 = √(𝑥 + 2)2 + (2 + 2)2
5 = √𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4 + (4)2
5 = √𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4 + 16
5 = √𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 20

Square both sides of the equation:

 2
(5)2 = (√𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 20)
25 = 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 20

Add −25 on both sides of the equation:

25 − 25 = 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 20 − 25
0 = 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 5
𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 5 = 0

Solve the quadratic equation by factoring.

𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 5 = 0
(𝑥 + 5)(𝑥 − 1) = 0

Apply the Zero Product Property:

𝑥+5=0 𝑥−1=0
𝑥 = −5 𝑥=1

Hence the values of 𝑥 that will satisfy the condition are 1 and −5