Median - a median
connects a vertex of a triangle to the midpoint of the opposite side. There
are three medians to a triangle. What do you notice about the medians? (Move point B, see what happens) |
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Centroid - the
point of concurrency of the three medians of a triangle. (Move point B, see what happens) |
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Investigate: Is the centroid the
same distance from each of the vertices? Is it the same distance from each side? Does the centroid always remain inside the triangle? Investigate: Notice that the centroid divides each median into two parts. What is the size relationship of the two pieces of the median? Show how you came up with your answer. |
An interesting fact about the Centroid: Using a piece of cardboard or thick piece of paper, draw a triangle and then draw the medians. Cut out the triangle and try to balance it on a pencil. You should be able to balance it at the centroid; this point is also called the center of gravity.