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explaining part of the proof of the triangle midsegment theorem to prov…

Question

explaining part of the proof of the triangle midsegment theorem
to prove part of the triangle midsegment theorem using the diagram, which statement must be shown?
○ the length of $overline{jk}$ equals the length of $overline{jl}$.
○ the length of $overline{gh}$ is half the length of $overline{kl}$.
○ the slope of $overline{jk}$ equals the slope of $overline{jl}$.
○ the slope of $overline{gh}$ is half the slope of $overline{kl}$.
(diagram: coordinate plane with points k(0, 0), l(2d, 0), j(2e, 2f), g(e, f), h(e + d, f))

Explanation:

Brief Explanations

The Triangle Midsegment Theorem states that the midsegment (here, \( \overline{GH} \)) of a triangle is parallel to the third side (here, \( \overline{KL} \)) and half its length. For parallel lines, their slopes are equal. Let's analyze each option:

  • Option 1: \( \overline{JK} \) and \( \overline{JL} \) are sides from the same vertex, not related to midsegment parallelism.
  • Option 2: The theorem says the midsegment is half the third side’s length, but to prove the theorem (using coordinates), we first show parallelism (equal slopes) or use midpoints. However, the key for the proof step here is about slopes for parallelism. Wait, no—wait, \( G \) and \( H \): \( G(e,f) \) is midpoint of \( JK \) (since \( J(2e,2f) \) and \( K(0,0) \), midpoint is \( (\frac{2e+0}{2},\frac{2f+0}{2})=(e,f) \)), and \( H(e + d,f) \): \( L(2d,0) \), so midpoint of \( JL \): \( J(2e,2f) \), \( L(2d,0) \), midpoint is \( (\frac{2e + 2d}{2},\frac{2f+0}{2})=(e + d,f) \). So \( GH \) is midsegment, so it should be parallel to \( KL \) (slope 0, since \( K(0,0) \), \( L(2d,0) \), slope \( \frac{0 - 0}{2d - 0}=0 \)). \( GH \) has points \( G(e,f) \), \( H(e + d,f) \), slope \( \frac{f - f}{(e + d) - e}=0 \), so slope of \( GH \) equals slope of \( KL \) (both 0). But the options: let's check each:
  • "The length of \( \overline{JK} \) equals \( \overline{JL} \)": No, \( JK \) length is \( \sqrt{(2e)^2 + (2f)^2} \), \( JL \) is \( \sqrt{(2d - 2e)^2 + (0 - 2f)^2} \), not equal.
  • "The length of \( \overline{GH} \) is half \( \overline{KL} \)": \( GH \) length is \( d \), \( KL \) length is \( 2d \), so this is true, but is this the "part of the proof" needed? Wait, the theorem’s proof often involves showing midpoints first, then parallelism (equal slopes) or length. But the options: the third option: "The slope of \( \overline{JK} \) equals slope of \( \overline{JL} \)": \( JK \) slope is \( \frac{2f - 0}{2e - 0}=\frac{f}{e} \), \( JL \) slope is \( \frac{0 - 2f}{2d - 2e}=\frac{-f}{d - e} \), not equal. Fourth option: "Slope of \( GH \) is half slope of \( KL \)": \( KL \) slope is 0, \( GH \) slope is 0, so 0 is not half of 0 (trivially, but the statement is wrong). Wait, no—wait, the correct approach: the midsegment \( GH \) should be parallel to \( KL \), so their slopes must be equal. But \( KL \) is horizontal (slope 0), \( GH \) is horizontal (slope 0). But the options: the third option is "The slope of \( \overline{JK} \) equals the slope of \( \overline{JL} \)"—no. Wait, maybe I misread. Wait, \( G \) and \( H \) are midpoints: \( G \) is midpoint of \( JK \), \( H \) is midpoint of \( JL \). So by midsegment theorem, \( GH \parallel KL \) and \( GH = \frac{1}{2}KL \). To prove parallelism, slopes must be equal. \( KL \) has slope \( \frac{0 - 0}{2d - 0}=0 \). \( GH \) has slope \( \frac{f - f}{(e + d) - e}=0 \), so slope of \( GH \) equals slope of \( KL \), but that's not an option. Wait, the options: let's re-express:

Wait, the options are:

  1. Length \( JK = JL \): No.
  2. Length \( GH = \frac{1}{2}KL \): \( GH \) length is \( (e + d) - e = d \), \( KL \) length is \( 2d - 0 = 2d \), so \( GH = \frac{1}{2}KL \). But is this the "part of the proof" needed? Wait, the theorem’s proof: to show \( GH \) is midsegment, we first show \( G \) and \( H \) are midpoints, then show \( GH \parallel KL \) (equal slopes) and \( GH = \frac{1}{2}KL \). But the question is "which statement must be shown" to prove part of the theorem. Let's check the slopes of \( JK \) and \( JL \): no. Wait, maybe the key is that \( G \) and \( H \) are midpoints, so \( GH \) is mid…

Answer:

The length of \( \overline{GH} \) is half the length of \( \overline{KL} \) (the second option).