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Old December 3rd, 2008, 09:59 PM
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Post Properties of a Triangle

I need help on using midpoints to draw a triangle... here's the question

"the midpoints of the sides of a triangle are L(4,2), M(2,3), AND N(5,4). What are the coordinates of the vertices of the triangle?"

I understand that you find the slope of each side, but what do you do after that? Please help and thanx

Last edited by I'm_Schuyler; December 3rd, 2008 at 10:19 PM.
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  #2  
Old December 4th, 2008, 12:57 AM
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Originally Posted by I'm_Schuyler View Post
I need help on using midpoints to draw a triangle... here's the question

"the midpoints of the sides of a triangle are L(4,2), M(2,3), AND N(5,4). What are the coordinates of the vertices of the triangle?"

I understand that you find the slope of each side, but what do you do after that? Please help and thanx
1. Let A, B and C denote the vertices of the triangle you are looking for.

2. Draw the triangle LMN.

3. The side of triangle ABC which passes through L must be parallel to MN:

Calculating the slope MN: m_{MN}=\dfrac{3-4}{2-5}=\dfrac13
Calculating the equation of the line through L:
y-2=\frac13 (x-4)~\implies~\boxed{y = \frac13x + \frac23}

4. Do just the same with the points M and N. You then have 3 equations of three lines.

5. Calculate the coordinates of the intersection points of these three lines.
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Last edited by earboth; December 4th, 2008 at 01:05 AM. Reason: added a sketch
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Old December 4th, 2008, 02:04 AM
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3. The side of triangle ABC which passes through L must be parallel to MN:

I dont get how the line passing through L is parallel to MN.
Any explanation?
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Old December 4th, 2008, 03:59 AM
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3. The side of triangle ABC which passes through L must be parallel to MN:

I dont get how the line passing through L is parallel to MN.
Any explanation?
There is a theorem whos name is (literally translated) "mid parallel in triangles theorem ":

"The connection between 2 midpoints of 2 sides in a triangle is parallel to the third side and has half the length of the third side."

I've used this theorem.
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Old December 4th, 2008, 09:12 AM
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There is a theorem whos name is (literally translated) "mid parallel in triangles theorem ":

"The connection between 2 midpoints of 2 sides in a triangle is parallel to the third side and has half the length of the third side."

I've used this theorem.
Thnx fo reminding me m8
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