CENTROID S MEDIANS CENTROIDS AND

A line segment connecting a vertex of a triangle to the midpoint of the side opposite the vertex is called a median . Since a X C triangle has three vertices, it has three medians. The point at which the three medians intersect is called the centroid. The Y centroid is also the center of balance of a triangle.

U Z

In the diagram at right, W , XV , Y are medians and point Cis the centroid. Z U The centroid is also located two thirds of the distance from each ver tex to the midpoint of the opposite side: CV = 2 XV , C = 2 Z , C = 2 U . 3 3 3 W W Y Y

Exampl e
Use the figure above and the given information below to answer the following questions. X Y = 9, C = 12, CX= 7 Y Answers Since Xis midpoint, X = X = Y W 9. 3 C = 2 U , 12 = 2 UY = (12) = 18 3 3 2 Y Y UY CX = 1 XV , 7 = 1 XV XV = 3(7) = 21
3 3

a. Find the length of X . W b. Find the length of Y . U c. Find the length of XV .

Problem s

Use the figure at right and the given information to answer each question. Crepresents the centroid of the triangle. 1. If 2. If 3. If 4. If 5. If 6. If BF = 9 , what is the length of DF ? AC = 8 , what is the length of CF ? Of AF ? BG = 24 , what is the length of CG ? BC = 9 and CG = 2x + 1 , solve for x. AC = y and C = 2. , solve for y. CD = 14.4 and E
C F 5 = 8 z , solve f or z.
B E

C G

F D

Graph the triangle with vertices A = (0, 6), B = ( 4, 10), C = (2, 2). 7. Find the coordinates of the midpoint of each segment. 8. Find the coordinates of the centroid of
AB C

Answers
1. 9 2. 4, 12 3. 8 4. 1.75 5. 5 6. 0.9 7. (2, 8) , (3, 6), ( 1, 4) 8. (2, 6)