Understanding Triangle Medians and Their Proportions

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties of triangle medians, specifically focusing on the 2:1 ratio in which a median is divided by the centroid. Participants seek clarification on when this ratio applies and the implications of this division in various scenarios involving triangle medians.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the conditions under which a median is divided in a 2:1 ratio and which segments correspond to the larger and smaller portions.
  • One participant suggests that the 2:1 ratio occurs when the three medians of a triangle intersect at the centroid.
  • Another participant provides a mathematical explanation involving the centroid, stating that the segments AG and GM are in the ratio 2:1.
  • Some participants express confusion about the terminology and the specific properties of the centroid, asking for clarification on whether all triangles have a centroid and if all medians intersect at a common point.
  • One participant lists multiple properties of the centroid, including its division of medians and other segments in a 2:1 ratio.
  • There is a request for tutorials or resources to better understand the topic, indicating a desire for further learning.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the centroid divides each median in a 2:1 ratio, but there is uncertainty regarding the specifics of when this occurs and the implications for different types of triangles. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the broader properties of centroids and their applicability to all triangles.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express difficulty in understanding the concepts and terminology related to centroids and medians, indicating potential gaps in foundational knowledge or definitions. There is also a request for specific search terms to facilitate further research.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students studying geometry, particularly those interested in the properties of triangles and centroids, as well as educators seeking to understand common misconceptions about these concepts.

momentum
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i have heard

when you draw a median in a triangle ...the median gets 2:1 bisected


i want to know when this happens ?

which one is the bigger portion ?

which one is the lower portion ?

can you please tell me the details of it.

can u please provide me a specific web page which explains this stuff ?


thank you
 
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I simply can't figure out what you mean. Can you post a drawing of that triangle...?

Daniel.
 
nobody replied.

if medians sects each other who is "2" and who is "1" ...so i want to know about 2:1 formula.

which situation this rule works ?

can you please provide me a tutorial for this ?
 
momentum said:
here i have uploaded the image

http://img69.imageshack.us/my.php?image=math7of.jpg

in which situation that works ?

does AO:OD=2:1

OR

AO:OD=1:2


which one is correct ?
What do you mean? I don't really get that?
What does the problem actually say?
Which one is the median, and which one is the bisector?
Or do you mean the centroid of a triangle (i.e, the single point where the 3 medians in a triangle intersect each other)? :)
 
OD = 1/3 AD ; AO = 2/3 AD

AO = 2OD ; AO:OD = 2 : 1

or OD : AO = 1 : 2
 
VietDao29 said:
What do you mean? I don't really get that?
do you mean the centroid of a triangle (i.e, the single point where the 3 medians in a triangle intersect each other)? :)

yes...probabily you are right.

in fact i don't know the details.

all i know is , a median is divided into 2:1 ratio sometimes ...but when ? i don't know. ...thats what i want to know.

can you please tell when does it occur ?

does it occur when 3 medians intersects each other ?

well, suppose 3 medians intersect each other, so that means each of the median is divided into 2:1 ratio ...but which portion is 2 and which portion is 1 ?

does the
top-->center=2
and
center-->bottom(middle of a side)=1


is this correct ?


Please provide me a tutorial.
i want to know about this thing.

i could not search "google" because i don't know what search keywords i should use to search .


thank you
 
momentum said:
yes...probabily you are right.

in fact i don't know the details.

all i know is , a median is divided into 2:1 ratio sometimes ...but when ? i don't know. ...thats what i want to know.

can you please tell when does it occur ?

does it occur when 3 medians intersects each other ?

well, suppose 3 medians intersect each other, so that means each of the median is divided into 2:1 ratio ...but which portion is 2 and which portion is 1 ?

does the
top-->center=2
and
center-->bottom(middle of a side)=1


is this correct ?


Please provide me a tutorial.
i want to know about this thing.

i could not search "google" because i don't know what search keywords i should use to search .


thank you
In the post #5, I did provide you the link to a wikipedia article about triangle. In the article, you will fnd a part that tells you something about the centroid. It's in the Points, lines and circles associated with a triangle section (number 3).
--------------
I'll give you a brief explanation if you want. But I may say, my terminology is not the best.
Let ABC be a triangle, and AM be one of its median. [tex]M \in BC[/tex]
We define the point G on the line segment AM such that:
[tex]\frac{AG}{GM} = \frac{2}{1} \quad \mbox{or} \quad \frac{AG}{AM} = \frac{2}{3} \quad \mbox{or} \quad \frac{MG}{AM} = \frac{1}{3}[/tex].
Then G is the centroid of the triangle ABC.
That is, the median BN, and CK pass through G.
And if we have 3 medians AM, BN, CK, they will intersect each other at only one point, namely G (the centroid).
Can you get it? :)
 
the centroid of a triangle has many 2:1 properties.

consider triangle ABC, with medians AD, BE, and CF.

1. Centroid G divides medians in the ratio 2:1, so that [tex]\frac{AG}{GD} = \frac{BG}{GE} = \frac{CG}{GF} = \frac {2}{1}[/tex]

2. the centroid G divides the line joining the circumcentre O and the orthocentre H in the ratio 2:1 so that [tex]\frac{HG}{CG} = \frac{2}{1}[/tex]

3. the foot of the perpendiculars P, Q, and R from the centroid to altitudes, divides the altitudes AX, BY, and CZ in the ratio 2:1. that is [tex]\frac{AP}{PX} = \frac{BQ}{QY} = \frac{CR}{RZ} = \frac{2}{1}[/tex]

i am sure there are more such properties of the centroid, (though its a guess)... the moment i find out more, i'll post it...
 
  • #10
Hi, centroid is a complex thing.

can i ask 2 questions on this centroid ?


does all triangle have centroid ? does all triangles medians intesect each other in a common point which is called the centroid ?


OR ,


there are few triangles (who are they ?) which has centroid ?


please answer.

thanks
 
  • #11
momentum said:
Hi, centroid is a complex thing.

can i ask 2 questions on this centroid ?


does all triangle have centroid ? does all triangles medians intesect each other in a common point which is called the centroid ?


OR ,


there are few triangles (who are they ?) which has centroid ?


please answer.

thanks
Every triangle has a centroid, the centroid is defined to bo the intersection of its 3 medians.
There should be a proof of 3 medians in a triangle intersect each other at only 1 point in your textbook, and that point is called the centroid of that triangle.
Can you get this? :)
 
  • #12
beautiful....thanks
 

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