Please, please, i need some hint about, tetrahedron

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    Tetrahedron
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around Commandino's Theorem related to the medians of a tetrahedron, specifically focusing on the concurrency of the medians and the ratio in which they divide each other. Participants explore various approaches to proving the theorem, including vector algebra and the implications of linear transformations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested, Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants reiterate Commandino's Theorem, emphasizing the concurrency of the medians and the 1:3 division ratio.
  • One participant suggests that proving the theorem should be straightforward for those familiar with dihedral angles and general geometry.
  • Another participant proposes using vector algebra as a method for proof.
  • A different viewpoint is presented, arguing that due to the nature of linear transformations, it suffices to prove the theorem for a regular tetrahedron, as all tetrahedra are equivalent under such transformations.
  • One participant raises a question about the conditions a linear transformation must satisfy to preserve distance ratios, particularly in the context of mapping a regular tetrahedron to a non-regular one.
  • The concept of a degenerate case is introduced, where a transformation could map a tetrahedron to the X-Y plane, which would not preserve distance ratios, suggesting the need for specific conditions for "nice" transformations.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the methods for proving Commandino's Theorem and the implications of linear transformations, indicating that multiple competing approaches and uncertainties remain in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of understanding the conditions under which linear transformations preserve ratios of distances, highlighting unresolved aspects of this relationship.

wowolala
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Commandino’s Theorem states that

The four medians of a tetrahedron
concur in a point that divides each of
them in the ratio 1:3, the longer
segment being on the side of the vertex
of the tetrahedron.

can someone put links below where about proof of this theorem

thx so much
 
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wowolala said:
Commandino’s Theorem states that

The four medians of a tetrahedron
concur in a point that divides each of
them in the ratio 1:3, the longer
segment being on the side of the vertex
of the tetrahedron.

can someone put links below where about proof of this theorem

thx so much

Why not just prove it yourself. If you know anything about dihedral angles, or even general geometry, this should be a piece of cake.
 
i think i would use vector algebra.
 
heres another point of view. since linear transformations take medians to medians, and all tetrahedra are equivalent by linear transformations it suffices to prove it for a regular tetrahedron.

but since the medians of the base triangle meet at a point, and the three medians originating from the base arise by lifting one end of those medians the same distance, it follows at least that those three medians meet in a point directly above the center of the base. hence dropping a median from the top vertex passes through this same point.

it remains to see where the point is.
 
mathwonk said:
since linear transformations take medians to medians, and all tetrahedra are equivalent by linear transformations it suffices to prove it for a regular tetrahedron.
Question: What condition should a linear transformation hold, in order to preserve ratios of distances? And does that condition will apply to a transformation which is custom-made to map a regular tetrahedron to a non-regular one (a "nice" transformation, since it won't scramble the vertices or something)?

At the bottom, degenerate case, I can imagine a transformation that always sets the Z coordinate to 0, mapping the regular tetrahedron to the X-Y plane and showing a perspective view of it. Obviously distance ratios are not preserved. Thus there must be a condition that a "nice" transformation satisfies.
 

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