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Let us consider the ABC shown below.

A

B CD

In the given figure, A is the vertex of ABC and BC is the side opposite to vertex A. A line segment AD is drawn

joining the point A and the point D, where D is the mid-point of BC .

Then, we say that AD is the median of ABC.

A median can be defined as follows:

“The line segment joining any vertex of a triangle to the mid-point of its opposite side is called the medianof the triangle.”

Now that we know what a median is, can we tell how many medians can be drawn inside a triangle?In a triangle, there are three vertices. Therefore, a triangle can have three medians, as shown in the followingfigure:

A

B CD

EF

Here, AD, BE , and CF are the three medians of ABC.

Note: The medians of a triangle always lie inside the triangle.

Medians Of Triangles

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Now, let us look at an example.

Example:In the PQR, PS is a median and the length of SR = 6.5 cm. Find the length of QR .

P

SQ R

Solution:Here, PS is the median to the side QR and we know that the median connects vertex to the mid-point of its oppositeside. Therefore, S is the mid-point of QR.

QR = 2SR = 2 × 6.5 cm = 13 cm

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07M0602The students of class VII were being taken to a tour to Corbett National Park. They stayed there in a tent. Theentrance in the tent was of a triangular shape as shown in the following figure:

A

B C

Now can you tell what the height of the tent is?

The height of the tent is the length of the vertical pole which stands in the centre of the tent.

Similarly, in any triangle, we can draw a perpendicular which represents its height. The perpendicular representing theheight of a triangle is called the altitude of the triangle.Look at the PQRshown below.

P

Q RS

Here, P is a vertex of PQR and QR is the opposite side to the vertex P. PS is a perpendicular drawn from P to

QR . This line segment PS is called the height or altitude of the triangle.

An altitude can be defined as follows:

“An altitude of a triangle is the perpendicular drawn from a vertex to the opposite side of the vertex of thetriangle.”

Note: A triangle can have three altitudes.P

SQ R

U T

In the above figure, PS, QT , and RU are the three altitudes of PQR.

Altitudes Of Triangles

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Remember:The altitudes of a triangle may not always lie inside it.

In an obtuse-angled triangle, the altitude drawn from the vertex of an acute angle lies outside the triangle. Inthis case, we have to extend the opposite side of the vertex from which the altitude is drawn.A

D CB

For example, in the above figure, ABC is an obtuse-angled triangle where ABC is an obtuse angle. AD is the altitude

of ABC drawn from the vertex A to extended CB.

Let us look at another example now.

Example:

In ABC, AD is perpendicular to BC such that BD =CD . Are the median and the altitude drawn from A toA to

BC same?A

DB C

Solution:

Here, AD BC .

Therefore, AD is an altitude of ABC drawn from the vertex A to BC .

Also, BD CD .

Therefore, AD is a median of ABC drawn from the vertex A to BC .

Thus, the altitude and the median drawn from A to BC are the same.