Asked by: Giani Ingenerf
science space and astronomy

What is the difference between the median of a triangle and the altitude of a triangle?

15
Altitude is the perpendicular line drawn from a vertex of a triangle to its opposite side. But, the median is just a line drawn from a vertex of a triangle to the midpoint of the opposite side of the triangle.


Also question is, can the median and altitude of a triangle be the same?

Yes. A median connects the midpoint of a triangle with the opposite vertex. An altitude connects a vertex of a triangle to the side opposite of the vertex so the angle formed between the two segments is a right angle.

Likewise, what is altitudes of a triangle? In geometry, an altitude of a triangle is a line segment through a vertex and perpendicular to (i.e., forming a right angle with) a line containing the base (the side opposite the vertex).

Then, what is a median of a triangle?

In geometry, a median of a triangle is a line segment joining a vertex to the midpoint of the opposite side, thus bisecting that side. Every triangle has exactly three medians, one from each vertex, and they all intersect each other at the triangle's centroid.

How many medians and altitudes are there in a triangle?

three medians

Related Question Answers

Clarine Kloecker

Professional

Is median perpendicular?

1 Answer. Segment joining a vertex to the mid-point of opposite side is called a median. Perpendicular from a vertex to opposite side is called altitude. A Line which passes through the mid-point of a segment and is perpendicular on the segment is called the perpendicular bisector of the segment.

Firas Rochera

Professional

Can an altitude be a median?

In general, altitudes, medians, and angle bisectors are different segments. In certain triangles, though, they can be the same segments. In Figure , the altitude drawn from the vertex angle of an isosceles triangle can be proven to be a median as well as an angle bisector.

Laureano Orjuela

Professional

What does the altitude of a triangle tell you?

The altitude of a triangle is a line from a vertex to the opposite side, that is perpendicular to that side, as shown in the animation above. The altitude is the shortest distance from a vertex to its opposite side. The word 'altitude' is used in two subtly different ways: It can refer to the line itself.

Feliu Lombardo

Explainer

Is the median of an equilateral triangle perpendicular?

Yes sure . In case of equilateral triangles (triangles having all its sides and all its angles equal) medians & perpendicular bisectors of the sides coincide, that is, they are same. You may visualize this fact just by drawing an equilateral triangle then draw its one median and corresponding side bisectors.

Valdas Ryskamp

Explainer

Is a bisector always perpendicular?

When it is exactly at right angles to PQ it is called the perpendicular bisector. In general, 'to bisect' something means to cut it into two equal parts. The 'bisector' is the thing doing the cutting. With a perpendicular bisector, the bisector always crosses the line segment at right angles (90°).

Arlet Ojalvo

Pundit

Is median and altitude same in equilateral triangle?

In case of an equilateral triangle, all the altitudes drawn are median as well and vice versa. In case of an isosceles triangle, the altitude drawn from the vertex (where the equal sides meet) to the unequal side is the median.

Yunior Orsoni

Pundit

What is the formula of median?

If the items are arranged in ascending or descending order of magnitude, then the middle value is called Median. Median = Size of (n+12)th item. Median = average of n2th and n+22th item.

Chabier Mucientes

Teacher

How do you find the median of an equilateral triangle?

so in figure angle OCB is 30 degree as angle ACB is 60 degree( equilateral triangle). so basically to find length of median you need to find the length of line segment AB , and AB=AO+OB , and AO= 32 cm (given) , so you just need to find length of OB. OB= 32*(1/2)= 16 cm . so length of median AB is 16 +32 =48 cm.

Mirtha Kurtz

Teacher

What do lines on triangles mean?

When two triangles are congruent it means that they have the same size and shape. This means that they have the same angles. The red slash marks show us which sides and angles that are congruent Congruency is shown by this symbol.

Ophelie Guttleber

Teacher

Is Median always 90 degree?

No , Median not always form a right angle to side on which it is falling , Only in case we have equilateral triangle or isosceles triangle's one median that is fall on non equal side of isosceles triangle .

Tobie Tazi

Teacher

Is median angle bisector?

No, median cannot be equal to the angle bisector (in general) because : Median is a line segment whose end points are the vertex and mid point of the opposite side of a triangle. while; Angular Bisector is a ray whose starting point is the vertex and which cuts the angle into two equal parts.

Douaae Gallemi

Reviewer

Does the median of a triangle form a right angle?

Each triangle has 3 medians. A median connects the midpoints of two of the three sides of a triangle. The median will always be parallel to the third side. Notice none of the medians form a right angle with the original sides.

Rigoberto Voscort

Reviewer

What is the formula for the altitude of an equilateral triangle?

Altitude of Equilateral Triangle h = (1/2) * √3 * a. Angles of Equilateral Triangle: A = B = C = 60° Sides of Equilateral Triangle: a = b = c.

Ionita Azdad

Reviewer

What is an example of altitude?

Definition: an altitude is a segment from the vertex of a triangle to the opposite side and it must be perpendicular to that segment (called the base). As the picture below shows, sometimes the altitude does not directly meet the opposite side of the triangle.

Discusion Moreo

Reviewer

What is the altitude of an equilateral triangle?

Altitude of an Equilateral Triangle: In geometry, the altitude of a triangle is a line segment that runs from any vertex of the triangle to the side opposite that vertex, called the base, so that it is perpendicular to that base.

Eduvijis Kutoff

Supporter

What is the base of a triangle?

Base of a Triangle. The side of a triangle which is perpendicular to the altitude. See also. Area of a triangle.

Ardelia Barra

Supporter

What do you mean by altitude?

As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context.

Carmelia Viles

Supporter

What are the properties of an altitude?

The altitude of a triangle is the perpendicular from the base to the opposite vertex. (The base may need to be extended). Since there are three possible bases, there are also three possible altitudes. The three altitudes intersect at a single point, called the orthocenter of the triangle.

Kyong Guan

Beginner

Do altitudes bisect sides?

An altitude from a vertex bisects the opposite base if and only if the two sides emerging from that particular vertex are equal(not necessary in a right angle triangle). Therefore, you need to specify this condition before assuming that the altitude cuts the opposite base in half.

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10th April, 2020

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