Triangle Vocabulary
(Altitude, Median and Perpendicular Bisector)
Open the Sketchpad File “Altitude, Median and Perp. Bisector”
Tab 1: Altitude
1. Measure:
mADB=_______________
mCDB=_______________
2. Move the triangle and watch the angle measurements.
3. What is your conclusion about an altitude (example: BD ) of a triangle?
4. What is another name for altitude? __________________________
Tab 2: Median
1. Measure:
CD= __________
AD=__________
mCDB=_____________
mADB=_____________
2. Move the triangle and watch the segment lengths and angle measurements.
3. What is your conclusion about a median (example: BD ) of a triangle? Does it have the same characteristics of an
altitude?
Tab 3: Perpendicular Bisector
1. Measure:
mBDE=___________
mCDE=___________
BD=_____________
CD=_____________
2. Move the triangle and watch the segment lengths and angle measurements.
3. What is your conclusion about a perpendicular bisector (example: ED )of a triangle? What’s the relationship
between a perpendicular bisector, median and altitude?
4. When the perpendicular bisector is within the triangle, what happens? Steps: Match the green line up with point A as
best you can. Measure AB and AC . What can you conclude?
Tab 4: Webquest
Go to the links/buttons provided and record the actual definitions from Math Open Reference. Use the applets to help.
Make sure you make the connection/revision to what you were missing in your conclusions.
Altitude:
Median:
Perpendicular Bisector: