ABC is a Right triangle
Since BD is the median
and given that AC=10.
Find the length of the side BD.
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ABC is a Right triangle
Since BD is the median
and given that AC=10.
Find the length of the side BD.
We can calculate BD according to the following rule:
In a right triangle, the midpoint of the hypotenuse is equal to half of the hypotenuse.
That is:
BD is equal to half of AC:
Given that:
5
Can a triangle have a right angle?
The hypotenuse is always the longest side and sits opposite the right angle (90°). Look for the small square symbol in the diagram to find the right angle!
This is a special property of right triangles! When you draw a median from the right angle to the hypotenuse, it creates an isosceles triangle where the median equals the two equal sides.
Look for these clues in the diagram: a small square symbol at the vertex, or two sides that appear perpendicular (form an L-shape). The problem states it's a right triangle, so one angle must be 90°.
You could, but you'd need to know the lengths of both legs first. The median rule is much faster: gives you the answer directly!
No! This special property only works for right triangles. In other triangles, the median to any side has a different formula involving all three sides.
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