To find the midpoint of a segment with endpoints $(-1, 2)$ and $(8, 6)$, we use the midpoint formula:

$\text{Midpoint} = \left(\frac{x_1 + x_2}{2}, \frac{y_1 + y_2}{2}\right)$

Substituting the given values:

$\text{Midpoint} = \left(\frac{-1 + 8}{2}, \frac{2 + 6}{2}\right)$

Now, calculate the coordinates:

$\text{Midpoint} = \left(\frac{7}{2}, \frac{8}{2}\right) = \left(3.5, 4\right)$

So, the midpoint of the segment is $\left(3.5, 4\right)$.

Would you like more details or have any questions? Here are some related questions:

1. How do you find the slope of the line connecting these endpoints?
2. What is the distance between the endpoints $(-1, 2)$ and $(8, 6)$?
3. Can you generalize the midpoint formula for any pair of points?
4. How would you find the midpoint if the endpoints were given in 3D coordinates?
5. What are some real-life applications of finding the midpoint?

Tip: Double-check your calculations when dealing with negative coordinates to ensure accuracy.