Amira is writing a coordinate proof to show that the area of a triangle created by joining the midpoints of an isosceles triangles is one-fourth the area of the isosceles triangle. She starts by assigning coordinates as given.
Triangle D E F in the coordinate plane so that vertex D is at the origin and is labeled 0 comma 0, vertex E is in the first quadrant and is labeled 2 a comma 2 b, and vertex F is on the positive side of the x-axis and is labeled 4a comma 0. Point Q is between points D and E. Point R is between points E and F. Point P is between points D and F and is labeled 2 a comma 0.
Enter your answers, in simplest form, in the boxes to complete the coordinate proof.
Point Q is the midpoint of DE¯¯¯¯¯ , so the coordinates of point Q are (a, b) .
Point R is the midpoint of FE¯¯¯¯¯ , so the coordinates of point R are (
, b).
In △DEF , the length of the base, DF¯¯¯¯¯ , is
, and the height is 2b, so its area is
.
In △QRP , the length of the base, QR¯¯¯¯¯ , is
, and the height is b, so its area is ab .
Comparing the expressions for the areas proves that the area of the triangle created by joining the midpoints of an isosceles triangle is one-fourth the area of the
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