Topicm971485d441fea71d_1528449000663_0Topic

Applications of the line equation: altitudes, medians, side perpendicular bisectors in a triangle

Levelm971485d441fea71d_1528449084556_0Level

Third

Core curriculumm971485d441fea71d_1528449076687_0Core curriculum

IX. Cartesian geometry.

Basic level.The student:

2) uses linear equations on a plane, both in the slope‑intercept form and in the general form, determines the linear equation of a line with given properties (for example going through two points, having a given slopeslopeslope, parallel or perpendicular to another line, tangential to the circle etc.).

Timingm971485d441fea71d_1528449068082_0Timing

45 minutes

General objectivem971485d441fea71d_1528449523725_0General objective

Using and interpreting the representation. Using mathematical objects and manipulating them, interpreting mathematical concepts.
Selecting and creating mathematical models to solve practical and theoretical problems.

Specific objectivesm971485d441fea71d_1528449552113_0Specific objectives

1. Finding equations of lines that:
- contain altitudes of the triangle,
- contain medians of the triangle,
- are perpendicular bisectors of the triangle.

2. Communicating in English, developing basic mathematical, computer and scientific competences, developing learning skills.

Learning outcomesm971485d441fea71d_1528450430307_0Learning outcomes

The student:

- finds equations of lines that contain altitudes of the triangle,

- finds equations of lines that contain medians of the triangle,

- finds equations of lines that are perpendicular bisectors of the triangle.

Methodsm971485d441fea71d_1528449534267_0Methods

1. Situational analysis.

2. Discussion.

Forms of workm971485d441fea71d_1528449514617_0Forms of work

1. Group work.

2. Individual work.

Lesson stages

Introductionm971485d441fea71d_1528450127855_0Introduction

The aim of the introduction part is revision of mathematical concepts that will be used during the lesson:
- altitudes of a triangle and the orthocentre of a triangle,

- medianmedianmedian of a triangle and centroidcentroidcentroid of a triangle,

- perpendicular bisector of a line segment and a circle circumscribed about a triangle,

- slopeslopeslope of a line and line equation in the slope‑intercept form,

- line equations of a line that goes through two points,

- conditions for perpendicularity and parallelism of lines.

Students work in pairs and use computers. They investigate lines that contain altitudes of triangles, medians of triangles and perpendicular bisectors of triangles. Pairs draw one of three worksheets.

Task
Worksheet 1.
Open the applet: „Triangle, its altitudes, medians and perpendicular bisectors”. Choose the option ‘altitudes of a triangle’. Change the location of vertices of the triangle and observe how altitudes of the triangle, lines that contain them and points of intersection of these lines change. Write conclusions in the form of:
- definition of the altitude of a triangle,

- theorem about the orthocentre of a triangle (also give the definition of the orthocentre of a triangle),

- classification of a triangle with regard to the location of the orthocentre in relation to the triangle.

Task
Worksheet 2.
Open the applet: „Triangle, its altitudes, medians and perpendicular bisectors”. Choose the option ‘medians of a triangle’. Change the location of vertices of the triangle and observe how medians and points of intersection of these lines change. Write conclusions in the form of:
- definition of the medianmedianmedian of a triangle,

- theorem about the centroidcentroidcentroid of the triangle (also give the definition of the centroid of a triangle),

- answer to the question: Can be centroidcentroidcentroid of a triangle be located outside of this triangle?

Task
Worksheet 3.
Open the applet: „Triangle, its altitudes, medians and perpendicular bisectors”. Choose the option ‘perpendicular bisectors of a triangle’. Change the location of vertices of the triangle and observe how perpendicular bisectors and points of intersection of these lines change. Write conclusions in the form of:
- definition of the perpendicular bisector of a line segment,

- theorem about the centre of a circle circumscribed about a triangle,

- classification of a triangle with regard to the location of the centre of a circle circumscribed about a triangle in relation to the triangle.

After having completed the work, students present their answers. The teacher adds some information, so that there are complete definitions and theorems (that students should know after completing appropriate classes from planimetry):

- definition of the altitude of a triangle as the proper line segment (the teacher should mention that often while discussing the altitude of triangle we mean not only the line segment, but also the length of this line segment, so there are tow meanings of the altitude of a triangle),

- definition of the orthocentre of a triangle with the theorem about the orthocentre of a triangle (the teacher points out that the orthocentre is the point of intersection of lines and not always it is the intersection of line segments),

- theorem about the classification of triangles with regard to the location of the orthocentre in relation to the triangle,

- definition of the medianmedianmedian of a triangle as the proper line segment,

- theorem about the centroidcentroidcentroid of a triangle (it is enough that students write that all medians of a triangle intersect at one point, the teacher can mention the other part of the theorem about the division of medians by the centroidcentroidcentroid, however, more important is the physical meaning of this point, for example as the point of support of a triangular cutting board that stays in equilibrium),

- theorem that the centroidcentroidcentroid of a triangle is always inside this triangle,

- definition of the perpendicular bisector of a triangle (the teacher should mention the geometric property of the perpendicular bisector of a line segment, that is the set of all points equidistant from endpoints of this line segment),

- theorem about a circle circumscribed about a triangle with the definition of the centre of this triangle,

- theorem about the classification of a triangle with regard to the location of the centre of a circle circumscribed about a triangle in relation to the triangle.

The whole exercise is a revision and should be done within the first 15 minutes of the lesson.

Procedurem971485d441fea71d_1528446435040_0Procedure

Students work individually, using computers. They learn how to find equations of lines containing altitudes, medians and perpendicular bisectors of sides of a triangle.

Task
Open the applet: „Triangle, its altitudes, medians and perpendicular bisectors” and set the location of vertices of the ABC triangle so that A = ( - 3, 2), B = ( 2, - 3), C = ( 5, 6). Find:
a) the equation of a line that contains the altitude of the ABC triangle that starts at the A vertex

b) the line equation that contains the medianmedianmedian BBIndeks dolny 1 of the triangle ABC,

c) the line equation of the perpendicular bisector of the AB side.

Verify each obtained equation by using the applet Equation of a line that goes through two given points.

After having completed the exercise, students chosen by the teacher write equations they found:
a) hA:y=-13x+1,

b) prBB1:y=-7x+13,

c) symAC:y=-2x+6.

The teacher starts discussion about finding each of these lines. The teacher tries to help students find the algorithm for determining each line, while paying attention to the minimal number of information necessary to do the task, for example if students propose the following algorithm to find the equation of the line hIndeks dolny A:

1. calculate the slopeslopeslope of the line BC : aBC=6-(-3)5-2=3,

2. write the equation of the line BC in the form BC : y=3x+b,

3. insert coordinatescoordinatescoordinates of the point B=(2,-3) to this equation: -3=3·2+b and calculate b=-9,

4. write the equation of the line BC : y=3x-9,

5. calculate the slopeslopeslope of the line hIndeks dolny A, knowing that it is perpendicular to the line BC : ahA=-13,

6. write the line equation hIndeks dolny A in the form hIndeks dolny A : y=-13x+b,

7. insert coordinatescoordinatescoordinates of the point A=(-3,2) to this equation: 2=-13·(-3)+b and calculate b=1,

8. write the equation of the line hIndeks dolny A : y=-13x+b,

then the teacher changes the discussion to optimization of this algorithm by removing points 2., 3., 4. The teacher also shows that we can simplify the algorithm by replacing points 6. and 7. by using the line equation y=a(x-xA)+yA. As a result, we obtain the algorithm:

1. calculate the slope of the line BC : aBC=6-(-3)5-2=3,
2. calculate the slope of the line hIndeks dolny A, knowing that it is perpendicular to the line BC : ahA=-13,
3. write the line equation hIndeks dolny A, using the equation:
y=a(x-xA)+yA of a line of a given slope a going through a given point A=(xA,yA):
hA:y=-13(x-(-3))+2, that is y=-13x+1.
m971485d441fea71d_1527752263647_01. calculate the slope of the line BC : aBC=6-(-3)5-2=3,
2. calculate the slope of the line hIndeks dolny A, knowing that it is perpendicular to the line BC : ahA=-13,
3. write the line equation hIndeks dolny A, using the equation:
y=a(x-xA)+yA of a line of a given slope a going through a given point A=(xA,yA):
hA:y=-13(x-(-3))+2, that is y=-13x+1.

The teacher asks to write similar algorithm in case of the line containing the medianmedianmedian BBIndeks dolny 1. The effect of the discussion should be the following, optimal algorithm:

1. calculate coordinatescoordinatescoordinates of the midpoint BIndeks dolny 1 of the side AC: B1=-3+52,2+62=1,4,

2. calculate the slope of the line BBIndeks dolny 1 : aBB1=4-(-3)1-2=-7,

3. calculate the equation of the line BBIndeks dolny 1, using the equation:

y=a(x-xA)+yA of a line of a given slopeslopeslope a and going through a given point A=(xA,yA):

BB1:y=-7(x-2)+(-3), that is y=-7x+11.

In the similar way, the teacher moderates the discussion to reach the algorithm of finding the equation of the perpendicular bisector of the side AC:

1. calculate coordinates of the midpoint BIndeks dolny 1 of the side AC : B1=-3+52,2+62=1,4,

2. calculate the slopeslopeslope of the line AC : aAC=6-25-(-3)=12,

3. calculate the slope of the line symAC, knowing that it is perpendicular to the line AC : asymAC=-2,

4. write the equation of the line symAC, using the equation:

y=a(x-xA)+yA of a line of a given slopeslopeslope a and going through a given point A=(xA,yA):

symAC:y=-2(x-1)+4, that is y=-2x+6.

Task
In the ABC triangle from the previous exercise, find:
a) equations of lines that contain altitudes of the ABC triangle that start at the B and C vertices,

b) line equations that contain medians AAIndeks dolny 1 and CCIndeks dolny 1 of the triangle ABC,

c) line equations of the perpendicular bisectors of sides AB and BC.

Verify each obtained equation by using the applet: „Equation of a line that goes through two given points” (M403).

Students work individually, doing the following exercises.

Task
Point D = ( 2, 0) is the midpoint of the side BC of the triangle ABC, in which A = ( - 6, 1), B = ( - 1, - 4). Find the equation:
a) of a line that contains the altitude of the ABC triangle that starts at the C vertex,

b) the line equation that contains the medianmedianmedian AC and BC of the triangle ABC,

c) the line equation of the perpendicular bisector of the AC side of the triangle ABC.

An extra task
Point P = ( 6, 9) is the midpoint of the point CD of the rhombus ABCD, in which A = ( - 10, - 6) and B = ( 6, - 4). Find equations of lines containing sides BC and CD of this rhombus.

Lesson summarym971485d441fea71d_1528450119332_0Lesson summary

Students do the revision exercises. Then together they sum‑up the classes, by formulating the conclusions to memorise:

Formulas for calculating coordinates of the midpoint of a line segment and condition for perpendicularity of lines are basic information necessary while finding equations of lines containing medians, altitudes and perpendicular bisectors of sides of a triangle.m971485d441fea71d_1527752256679_0Formulas for calculating coordinates of the midpoint of a line segment and condition for perpendicularity of lines are basic information necessary while finding equations of lines containing medians, altitudes and perpendicular bisectors of sides of a triangle.

Selected words and expressions used in the lesson plan

centroidcentroidcentroid

circumcentercircumcentercircumcenter

coordinatescoordinatescoordinates

medianmedianmedian

perpendicular bisector of sideperpendicular bisector of sideperpendicular bisector of side

slopeslopeslope

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slope1
slope

współczynnik kierunkowy prostej

R1IYanrooTsNR1
wymowa w języku angielskim: slope
median1
median

środkowa

RqlqkVHKO5WIb1
wymowa w języku angielskim: median
centroid1
centroid

środek ciężkości

ReD6mVyVuoaB91
wymowa w języku angielskim: centroid
coordinates1
coordinates

współrzędne

RnkbvzDuCIdLH1
wymowa w języku angielskim: coordinates
circumcenter1
circumcenter

środek okręgu opisanego

RMKTdytRJr6Sc1
wymowa w języku angielskim: circumcenter
perpendicular bisector of side1
perpendicular bisector of side

symetralna boku

RpI5o0g1RiAPE1
wymowa w języku angielskim: perpendicular bisector of side