Section 1.1

The Distance and Midpoint Formulas

x axis

y axis

origin

Rectangular or Cartesian Coordinate System

Let's plot the point (6,4)

(-3,-5)

(0,7)Let's plot the point (-6,0)

(6,4)

(-6,0)

Let's plot the point (-3,-5) Let's plot the point (0,7)

Quadrant I x > 0, y > 0

Quadrant II x < 0, y > 0

Quadrant III x < 0, y < 0

Quadrant IVx > 0, y < 0

Horizontal or Vertical Segments

Find the distance d between the points (2, 4) and ( 1, 3).

221 2 3 4d

22( 3) 7d 9 49 58 7.62

Find the midpoint of the line segment from P1 = (4, 2) to P2 = (2, 5). Plot the points and their midpoint.

4 2

2x

3

2 5

2y

7

2

73,

2M

x

y

P1

P2

M