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Symmedian and Antiparallel: What is this about?
A Mathematical Droodle


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Explanation

Copyright © 1996-2008 Alexander Bogomolny

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A symmedian drawn from a vertex of a triangle divides the antiparallels to the opposite side in half.


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Indeed, let CS be the symmedian from vertex C and UV an antiparallel to the side AB. By the definition of the antiparallel, the triangles ABC and VUC are similar. Assume that this similarity maps CM to CT. Then the segments UT and VT are equal as are the angles ACM and VCT. It follows that CT is a part of the reflection of CM in the angle bisector of C. But this is exactly the definition of the symmedian. It follows that CS (CT extended) is the symmedian from C.

This result is often presented in a different form: the locus of the midpoints of the antiparallels to a side of a triangle is the summedian through the opposite vertex.

Corollary

In a right-angled triangle the symmedian point coincides with the midpoint of the altitude to the hypotenuse. Indeed, let in ABC angle B be right. Then the altitude BHB is antiparellel to both AB and BC. Therefore, it is halved by either of them. In other words, the midpoint of BHb lies on the symmedians through A and C. Since the symmedian point is the point of concurrency of the three symmedians, it is also the point where any two of them meet.

The Symmedians

  1. Symmedian and 2 Antiparallels
  2. Symmedian and Antiparallel
  3. Symmedian in a Right Triangle
  4. Nobbs' Points and Gergonne Line
  5. Three Tangents Theorem
  6. A Tangent in Concurrency
  7. Symmedian and the Tangents
  8. Bride's Chair
  9. Star of David
  10. Ceva's Theorem
  11. The Many Ways To Construct a Triangle
  12. Concyclic Circumcenters: A Dynamic View
  13. Concyclic Circumcenters: A Sequel

Copyright © 1996-2008 Alexander Bogomolny

28696004Page copy protected against web site content infringement by Copyscape


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