Question

By vector method prove that the medians of a triangle are concurrent.

Using vector method, prove that the medians of a triangle are concurrent.

Answer 1

Let A, B and C be vertices of a triangle.

Let D, E and F be the mid-points of the sides BC, AC and AB respectively.

Let `bara, barb, barc, bard, bare` and `barf` be position vectors of points A, B, C, D, E and F respectively.

Therefore, by mid-point formula,

∴ `bard = (barb + barc)/2, bare = (bara + barc)/2` and `barf = (bara + barb)/2`

∴ `2bard = barb + barc, 2bare = bara + barc` and `2barf = bara + barb`

∴ `2bard + bara = bara + barb + barc`, similarly `2bare + barb = 2barf + barc = bara + barb + barc`

∴ `(2bard + bara)/3 = (2bare + barb)/3 = (2barf + barc)/3 = (bara + barb + barc)/3 = barg`  ...(Say)

Then we have `barg = (bara + barb + barc)/3 = ((2)bard + (1)bara)/(2 + 1) = ((2)bare + (1)barb)/(2 + 1) = ((2)barf + (1)barc)/(2 + 1)`

If G is the point whose position vector is `barg`, then from the above equation it is clear that the point G lies on the medians AD, BE, CF and it divides each of the medians AD, BE, CF internally in the ratio 2 : 1.

Therefore, three medians are concurrent.