In previous lessons, we used the parallel postulate to learn new theorems that enabled us to solve a variety of problems about parallel lines:
Parallel Postulate: Given: line l and a point P not on l. There is exactly one line through P that is parallel to l.
In this lesson we extend these results to learn about special line segments within triangles. For example, the following triangle contains such a configuration:
Triangle △XYZ is cut by AB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ where A and B are midpoints of sides XZ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ and YZ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ respectively. AB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ is called a midsegment of △XYZ. Note that △XYZ has other midsegments in addition to AB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯. Can you see where they are in the figure above?
If we construct the midpoint of side XY¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ at point C and construct CA¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ and CB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ respectively, we have the following figure and see that segments CA¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ and CB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ are midsegments of △XYZ.
In this lesson we will investigate properties of these segments and solve a variety of problems.
Properties of midsegments within triangles
We start with a theorem that we will use to solve problems that involve midsegments of triangles.
Midsegment Theorem: The segment that joins the midpoints of a pair of sides of a triangle is:
parallel to the third side. half as long as the third side.
Proof of 1. We need to show that a midsegment is parallel to the third side. We will do this using the Parallel Postulate.
Consider the following triangle △XYZ. Construct the midpoint A of side XZ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯.
By the Parallel Postulate, there is exactly one line though A that is parallel to side XY¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯. Let’s say that it intersects side YZ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ at point B. We will show that B must be the midpoint of XY¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ and then we can conclude that AB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ is a midsegment of the triangle and is parallel to XY¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯.
We must show that the line through A and parallel to side XY¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ will intersect side YZ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ at its midpoint. If a parallel line cuts off congruent segments on one transversal, then it cuts off congruent segments on every transversal. This ensures that point B is the midpoint of side YZ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯.
Since XA¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯≅AZ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯, we have BZ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯≅BY¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯. Hence, by the definition of midpoint, point B is the midpoint of side YZ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯. AB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ is a midsegment of the triangle and is also parallel to XY¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯.
Proof of 2. We must show that AB=12XY.
In △XYZ, construct the midpoint of side XY¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ at point C and midsegments CA¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ and CB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ as follows:
First note that CB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯∥XZ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ by part one of the theorem. Since CB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯∥XZ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ and AB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯∥XY¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯, then ∠XAC≅∠BCA and ∠CAB≅∠ACX since alternate interior angles are congruent. In addition, AC¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯≅CA¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯.
Hence, △AXC≅△CBA by The ASA Congruence Postulate. AB¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯≅XC¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯ since corresponding parts of congruent triangles are congruent. Since C is the midpoint of XY¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯, we have XC=CY and XY=XC+CY=XC+XC=2AB by segment addition and substitution.
So, 2AB=XY and AB=12XY. ⧫
Example 1
Use the Midsegment Theorem to solve for the lengths of the midsegments given in the following figure.
M, N and O are midpoints of the sides of the triangle with lengths as indicated. Use the Midsegment Theorem to find
A. MN. B. The perimeter of the triangle △XYZ. A. Since O is a midpoint, we have XO=5 and XY=10. By the theorem, we must have MN=5. B. By the Midsegment Theorem, OM=3 implies that ZY=6; similarly, XZ=8, and XY=10. Hence, the perimeter is 6+8+10=24.
We can also examine triangles where one or more of the sides are unknown.
Example 2
Use the Midsegment Theorem to find the value of x in the following triangle having lengths as indicated and midsegment XY¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯.
By the Midsegment Theorem we have 2x−6=12(18). Solving for x, we have x=152.
Lesson Summary
