document.write( "Question 1208799: ABCD is a quadrilateral. If diagonals AC and BD bisect each other, then prove that ABCD is a parallelogram. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #847249 by math_tutor2020(3817)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! \n" ); document.write( "E = intersection of diagonals AC and BD \n" ); document.write( "By construction we'll have EA = EC and EB = ED be the case.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Let's say we placed point E at the origin (0,0). \n" ); document.write( "Let's place point A at (p,q) where p and q are any real numbers. I'll select p = 2 and q = 3 as shown in the diagram below. \n" ); document.write( "To go from E to A we go p units right and q units up. \n" ); document.write( "To go from E to C, we go in reverse: go p units left and q units down. This places C at (-p,-q) \n" ); document.write( "By construction, AE = EC to show that diagonal AC is bisected. \n" ); document.write( "You can use the distance formula, or Pythagorean theorem, to show that \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now let's say point B is located at (r,s) where r and s are any real numbers. I'll pick r = 3 and s = 1. \n" ); document.write( "Follow similar logic as the previous paragraph to determine point D is located at (-r,-s). \n" ); document.write( "A similar construction leads to BE = ED to show that diagonal BD is bisected.\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "-------------------------------------------------------\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Key takeaway: \n" ); document.write( "A = (p,q) \n" ); document.write( "B = (r,s) \n" ); document.write( "C = (-p,-q) \n" ); document.write( "D = (-r,-s) \n" ); document.write( "E = (0,0) \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "In the diagram above we have p=2,q=3,r=3,s=1. \n" ); document.write( "However, you can select any four real numbers you want for p,q,r,s. \r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "-------------------------------------------------------\r \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Compute the slope of side AB \n" ); document.write( "m = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) \n" ); document.write( "m = (s-q)/(r-p) \n" ); document.write( "Compute the slope of side CD \n" ); document.write( "m = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) \n" ); document.write( "m = (-s-(-q))/(-r-(-p)) \n" ); document.write( "m = (-s+q)/(-r+p) \n" ); document.write( "m = (-1(s-q))/(-1(r-p)) \n" ); document.write( "m = (s-q)/(r-p) \n" ); document.write( "Both slope results are the same expression. To avoid dividing by zero, \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Since slopeAB = slopeCD, we conclude that AB is parallel to CD. \n" ); document.write( "Similar steps are followed to prove that BC is parallel to AD. \n" ); document.write( "This concludes the proof that ABCD is a parallelogram. \n" ); document.write( " \n" ); document.write( " |