Proof of Varignon’s Parallelogram

Nolan Manteufel
November 19, 2009
Varignon’s Theorem:
Given any quadrangle (A, B, C, D) the midpoints of the sides (P, Q, R, S) form a
parallelogram.
Nolan’s Proof:
Consider each quadrangle vertex as the terminal point of a vector in R2.

A =< Ax , Ay > C =< C x , C y >

B =< Bx , By > D =< Dx , D y >

Use Vector Addition to locate the mid-points P, Q, R, S of the quadrangle sides.

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 Consider the terminal points P, Q, R, S as vectors with an origin of point A.

P =< Px , Py > R =< Rx , R y >

Q =< Qx , Qy > S =< S x , S y >

By vector composition, we see the components of P, Q, R, S are:

⎛ B − Ax ⎞ ⎛ C − Bx ⎞ ⎛ D − Ax ⎞ ⎛ C − Dx ⎞
Px = ⎜ x ⎟ Qx = ⎜ x ⎟ + ( Bx − Ax ) Rx = ⎜ x ⎟ Sx = ⎜ x ⎟ + ( Dx − Ax )
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
⎛ B − Ay ⎞ ⎛ C − By ⎞ ⎛ D − Ay ⎞ ⎛ C − Dy ⎞
Py = ⎜⎜ y ⎟⎟ Qy = ⎜⎜ y ⎟⎟ + ( By − Ay ) Ry = ⎜⎜ y ⎟ S y = ⎜⎜ y ⎟ + ( Dy − Ay )
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎟⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎟⎠

Consider the quadrangle formed by the terminal points of P, Q, R, S . Notice that this

quadrangle is a parallelogram if and only if RS = PQ , and RP = SQ .

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To show RS = PQ …

RS = RS
= R−S
=< Rx , R y > − < S x , S y >
⎛ C − Dx ⎞ ⎛ C y − Dy
⎞ ⎛ C − Bx ⎞ ⎛ C y − By ⎞
= 〈⎜ x ⎟ + ( Dx − Ax ), ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ + ( D y − Ay )〉 − 〈⎜ x ⎟ + ( Bx − Ax ), ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟ + ( B y − Ay )〉
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠
⎛ C + Dx − 2 Ax ⎞ ⎛ C y + D y − 2 Ay ⎞ ⎛ C + Bx − 2 Ax ⎞ ⎛ C y + B y − 2 Ay ⎞
= 〈⎜ x ⎟, ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟〉 − 〈⎜ x ⎟, ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟〉
⎝ 2 ⎠⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠⎝ 2 ⎠
⎛ D − Bx ⎞ ⎛ D y − B y ⎞
RS = 〈⎜ x ⎟, ⎜ ⎟⎟〉
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎜⎝ 2 ⎠

RS = RS
And

PQ = PQ

=Q−P
=< Qx , Q y > − < Px , Py >
⎛ D − Ax ⎞ ⎛ D y − Ay ⎞ ⎛ B − Ax ⎞ ⎛ B y − Ay ⎞
= 〈⎜ x ⎟, ⎜ ⎟⎟〉 − 〈⎜ x ⎟, ⎜⎜ ⎟⎟〉
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎜⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎝ 2 ⎠⎝ 2 ⎠

⎛ D − Bx ⎞ ⎛ D y − B y ⎞
PQ = 〈⎜ x ⎟, ⎜ ⎟⎟〉
⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎜⎝ 2 ⎠

PQ = PQ
Therefore:
RS = PQ Q.E.D.

Similar steps are taken to show RP = SQ .

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