Department of Mathematics Education
EMT 469

Chris Hood


Construction of a Triangle given b,c, and m(a)
To see a GSP sketch click here.

Given the following segments b,c and m(a) construct a triangle.

Begin by copying c.(segmentAB)

Now from point A construct a circle with a radius of length b. This circle is the locus of all the points that C can be.

Now connect point C with point B and call this segment a. Take the midpoint of a and connect it with the midpoint of c.

The circle centered at the median of c and going through CB. Thus one locus for the midpoint of the side oppisite vertex A is this circle:

Another locus of the midpoint of the side opposite vertex A is a circle with center at A and radius of ma.

Where these two circles intersect is the point at which this triangle can have a midpoint opposite A.

Thus, the construciton is complete.
For a GSP script click here.
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