back to Geometry
Proving The Median Theorem
- Question

- In the figure above, ABC is a right triangle, angle C is 90 degrees. D is the midpoint of the hypotenuse AB.
Prove CD = AB/2.
- Proof
- Extend CD to E, to make CD = DE.

- Since D is the midpoint of AB (given), so AD = DB
- Since CD = DE, so quadrilateral AEBC is a parallelogram.
- (Theorem: If the diagonals of a quadrilateral bisect each other, then it is a parallelogram).
- Since angle C is 90 degrees (given), so parallelogram AEBC is a rectangle.
- (A rectangle can be defined as a parallelogram having a right angle). The properties of a parallelogram can
then be used to prove that each of the remaining angles of a rectangle must be a right angle.
- Since AEBC is a rectangle, so AB = CE. (Theorem: The diagonals of a rectangle are congruent).
- So CD = CE/2 = AB/2
- So we proof the theorem that the length of the median drawn to the hypotenuse of a right triangle is one-half the length of the hypotenuse.