Perimeter of a triangle

The sum total length of all the three sides of a triangle is called its perimeter.

In figure 4-8 the perimeter of the Triangle PQR

PQ + QR + PR = 2cm + 4cm + 3cm = 9cm

Median of a Triangle

The median of a triangle is the line segment joining a vertex to the mid-point of
the opposite side.

Consider a triangle PQR, mark the mid point of QR and name it S. Similarly
mark the mid point of RP and PQ . Let them respectively be T and U. Now join P
to S, Q to T and R to U. The lines PS, QT and RU are the medians of the triangle
PQR. The three medians of a triangle are always concurrent at a point. Here, O is
the point of concurrence of the median of Triangle PQR and is known as the
Centroid of the triangle. Thus, Centroid is the point of concurrence of the
medians of a triangle.
The centroid of a triangle divides the medians in a ratio 2:1 from the vertex of the
triangle. In figure 4-9, OP=2 OS, OQ=2OT and OR=2OU.

It should be noted that:

a. Medians of an equilateral triangle are equal.

b. Medians to the equal sides of an isosceles triangle are equal.

c. The centroid of a triangle lies in the interior of the triangle.

Altitude of a Triangle

The altitude of a triangle is the line segment drawn from a vertex, perpendicular
to the other side.

In figure 4-10, PS ⊥ QR from the vertex P to the side QR. Therefore, PS is the
altitude of the triangle. Similarly, QT ⊥ PR and RU ⊥ PQ . Therefore, RU and QT
are also the altitudes of PQR .

The three altitudes are concurrent at O. O is called the Orthocentre

of Triangle PQR . Thus, Orthocentre of a triangle is the point of concurrence of
three altitudes of a triangle.
Every triangle has three altitudes. The altitudes of a triangle are concurrent.
Here G is the Orthocenter in each triangle.

Notable points:

1. The orthocentre of an acute triangle lies in the interior of the triangle.

2. The orthocentre of a right triangle is the vertex of the right angle because sides
PQ and QR can be considered as altitudes.
3. The orthocenter of an obtuse triangle lies in the exterior of the triangle.

4. Altitudes drawn on equal sides of an isosceles triangle are equal.

5. The altitude bisects the base of an isosceles triangle.

6. The altitudes of an equilateral triangle are equal.

Angle Bisectors of a Triangle

An angle bisector of a triangle is a line segment that bisects the angle of a triangle
and its other end point lies on the side opposite to that angle. In figure 4-12
uuur uuuur uuur
PL, QM and RN are the angle bisectors of the angles ∠P, ∠Q and ∠R respectively.
uuur uuuur uuur
We observe that the angle bisectors PL, QM and RN are concurrent at O. This
point O, is known as the incentre of the Triangle PQR . Therefore, Incentre of a
triangle is the point of concurrence of the three angle bisectors of the triangle.

The incentre of a triangle lies in the interior of a triangle and is equidistant from
the three sides of the triangle. Therefore, it is the centre of the incircle of a
triangle.

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