Median drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle

Theorem 1 In a right triangle, the median drawn to the hypotenuse has the measure half the hypotenuse. Proof Let us consider the right triangle ABC with the right angle A (Figure 1), and let AD be the median drawn from the vertex A to the hypotenuse BC. We need to prove that the length of the median AD is half the length of the hypotenuse BC. Draw the straight line DE passing through the midpoint D parallel to the leg AC till the intersection with the other leg AB at the point E (Figure 2). The angle BAC is the right angle by the condition. The angles BED and BAC are congruent as they are corresponding angles at the parallel lines AC and ED and the transverse AB (see the lesson Parallel lines under the topic Angles, complementary, supplementary angles in the section Geometry in this site). Therefore, the angle BED is the right angle. Now, since the straight line DE passes through the midpoint D and is parallel to AC, it cuts the side AB in two congruent segments of equal length: AE = EB (see the lesson The line segment joining the midpoints of two sides of a triangle under the topic Triangles in the section Geometry in this site). So, the triangles AED and BED are right triangles that have congruent legs AE and EB and the common leg DE. Hence, these triangles are congruent in accordance to the postulate 1 (SAS) of the lesson Congruence tests for triangles under the

topic Triangles in the section Geometry in this site. It implies that the segments AD and DB are congruent as corresponding sides of these triangles. Since DB has the length half the length of the hypotenuse BC, we have proved that the median AD has the length half the length of the hypotenuse. The Theorem 1 is proved. Note In the course of proving the Theorem 1 we actually have proved the following statement also: In the right triangle the median drawn to the hypotenuse divides the triangle in two isosceles triangles. The converse statement to the Theorem 1 is valid too. Theorem 2 If in a triangle a median has the measure half the length of the side it is drawn, then the triangle is a right triangle. Proof We are given the triangle ABC (Figure 3) with the median AD drawn from the vertex A to the side BC. We know that the length of the median Figure 3. To Figure 4. To AD is half the length the side BC. We the Theorem the proof of need to prove that the triangle ABC 2 the Theorem 2 is the right triangle. The segments AD and BD are of the same length, by the condition.

This means that the triangle ADB is isosceles. It implies that the angles ABD and BAD (Figure 4) are congruent as the angles at the base of the isosceles triangle (see the lesson Isosceles triangles under the topic Triangles of the section Geometry in this site). So, we marked both the angles ABD and BAD by the same symbol . Similar arguments show that the angles ACD and CAD are congruent as the angles at the base of isosceles triangle ACD (the segments AD and CD have the same length by the condition). Based on this, we marked both the angles ACD and CAD by the same symbol Now, consider the sum of the angles and . and is equal to the .

From the one side, this sum is equal to the angle BAC. From the other side, the sum of the angles exterior angle EAC of the triangle ABC (Figure 4) (see the lesson Sum of the interior angles of a triangle under the topic Triangles of the section Geometry in this site). Thus we have proved, that the angle BAC is equal to its supplementary angle EAC. It implies that the angle BAC is the right angle. The proof is completed.