prove that the median of a trapezium is a parallel to the parallel sides of the trapezium and its length is half the sum of parallel sides .
The proof is explained below:
Let
ABCD
be a trapezoid with lower base
AD
and upper base
BC
.
M
is a midpoint of left leg
AB
and
N
is a midpoint of right leg
CD
.
Connect vertex B with midpoint N of opposite leg CD and extend it beyond point N to intersect with continuation of lower base AD at point X .
Consider two triangles
ΔBCN
and
ΔNDX
. They are congruent by angle-side-angle theorem because
(a) angles ∠
BNC
and ∠
DNX
are vertical,
(b) segments
CN
and
ND
are congruent (since point
N
is a midpoint of segment
CD
),
(c) angles ∠
BCN
and ∠
NDX
are alternate interior angles with parallel lines
BC
and
DX
and transversal
CD
.
Therefore, segments
BC
and
DX
are congruent, as well as segments
BN
and
NX
, which implies that
N
is a midpoint of segment
BX
.
Now consider triangle
ΔABX
. Since
M
is a midpoint of leg
AB
by a premise of this theorem and
N
is a midpoint of segment
BX
, as was just proven, segment
MN
is a mid-segment of triangle
ΔABX
and, therefore, is parallel to its base
AX
and equal to its half.
But AX is a sum of lower base AD and segment DX , which is congruent to upper base BC . Therefore, MN is equal to half of sum of two bases AD and BC
You can also go for youtube, for better understanding through video lectures. I hope this helps you!