Proof

by

Samuel Obara

The area of the median triangle is 75% of the original triangle (ABC)

This time the construction has to be done more carefully. For better investigation, let the two triangle not be separetely constructed as earlier. Now construct triangle ABC as shown in the figure below. Let CE, BD and AF be the medians of triangle ABC. Using median CE and point E construct a ray parallel to DB and also construct another ray from C, parallel to CB to meet the other ray at point G. Using points CEG construct segments to form triangle GEC as shown below. Click here to see gsp file

Note that as per the construct, segment GE is paralle to DB, and AF is parallel to CG, taking EC as the transversal line, angle GEC is corresponding to DOC, hence equal. Let angle GCE be X degrees, angle DOC will be supplimentary to BOC hence angle BOC will be (180 - x)º. With the same arguement, angle EOB will Xº.

Before I go further to proof this conjecture, it should be noted that medians have two main properties

With that in mind, let us consider triangle ABC and median EC which devide it in two equal areas. Therefore area EBC is = .

I will find the area of triangle EBC which is area of triangle EOB + area of triangle BOC. To find area of a triangle, I will use the formula where a and are sides that enclose the angle.

Area of triangle

Area of triangle

Now let EC = y and DB = t, then using property (i) then OC = 2/3EC = 2/3y, where as OB = 2/3DB = 2/3t

therefore area of triangle

and area of triangle

Total area is

hence area of triangle ABC will be

finally consider area of triangle made of medians i.e triangle CEG will be

Therefore the ratio of triangle CEG to triangle ABC is

Here is another cool way of proofing this


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