How do you find the coordinates of the other endpoint of a segment with the given Endpoint: (0, 0); Midpoint: ( 2, -8)?

1 Answer
Feb 19, 2017

x_"other end" = 2x_"midpoint" - x_"starting point"xother end=2xmidpointxstarting point

y_"other end" = 2y_"midpoint" - y_"starting point"yother end=2ymidpointystarting point

Explanation:

Given:

x_"starting point" = 0xstarting point=0,
y_"starting point" = 0ystarting point=0
x_"midpoint" = 2xmidpoint=2
y_"midpoint" = -8ymidpoint=8

Find: x_"other end"xother end and y_"other end"yother end

The change in x, Deltax, from the starting point to the midpoint is:

Deltax = x_"midpoint" - x_"starting point"" [1]"

The other end must be twice that change relative to the starting point:

x_"other end" = 2Deltax+ x_"starting point"" [2]"

Substitute the right side of equation [1] into equation [2]:

x_"other end" = 2(x_"midpoint" - x_"starting point")+ x_"starting point"" [3]"

Use the distributive property:

x_"other end" = 2x_"midpoint" - 2x_"starting point" + x_"starting point"" [4]"

Combine like terms:

x_"other end" = 2x_"midpoint" - x_"starting point"" [5]"

The same thing is true of the y coordinate:

y_"other end" = 2y_"midpoint" - y_"starting point"" [6]"

Substituting the given information into equations [5] and [6]:

x_"other end" = 2(2) - 0

y_"other end" = 2(-8) - 0

x_"other end" = 4

y_"other end" = -16

The other endpoint is (4,-16)