What is the first step to find the midpoint of a line?

To find the midpoint of a line segment with endpoints defined by their coordinates (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), the first step involves calculating the average of both the x-coordinates and the y-coordinates. This is done by adding the x-coordinates and the y-coordinates separately, and then dividing both sums by two.

The formula for the midpoint M is given by:

[ M = \left( \frac{x_1 + x_2}{2}, \frac{y_1 + y_2}{2} \right) ]

This formula reflects that to determine the midpoint accurately, one needs to take both components into account. By first adding both coordinates together and then dividing by two, you ensure that the midpoint is positioned equally between the two endpoints along both axes.

Thus, choosing to both add each coordinate and then divide the sum by two captures the essence of finding the midpoint effectively.