In triangle geometry, the three medians of a triangle intersect at a single special point. This common point of intersection of all three medians is called the triangle's what?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: centroid

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This is a conceptual geometry question that tests your knowledge of special points associated with a triangle. Each of the four classical centres (centroid, orthocentre, incentre, and circumcentre) is defined in a different way. Here we focus specifically on medians and their point of concurrency.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • We are dealing with a general triangle (no special type assumed).
  • Each median connects a vertex to the midpoint of the opposite side.
  • All three medians intersect in a single point.
  • We must identify the correct name for this point.


Concept / Approach:
It helps to recall the definitions: Centroid: Intersection point of the three medians. Orthocentre: Intersection point of the three altitudes. Incentre: Intersection point of the three internal angle bisectors. Circumcentre: Intersection point of the perpendicular bisectors of the sides. Recognising which construction is described in the question immediately leads to the correct term.


Step-by-Step Solution:
The question explicitly mentions medians. By definition, medians connect each vertex to the midpoint of the opposite side. The unique point at which all three medians of a triangle meet is called the centroid. Therefore, the point of intersection of all the three medians is the centroid.


Verification / Alternative check:
In coordinate geometry, if the vertices of a triangle are (x1, y1), (x2, y2), and (x3, y3), the intersection of the medians is at the point whose coordinates are: ((x1 + x2 + x3) / 3, (y1 + y2 + y3) / 3) This point is well known as the centroid and lies two-thirds of the way from each vertex along the median, supporting our identification.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Orthocentre involves altitudes, not medians. Incentre uses angle bisectors, and circumcentre uses perpendicular bisectors of the sides. None of these definitions match the description given in the question.


Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mix up the various triangle centres because their names sound similar. The key is to link each centre with its defining construction: medians for centroid, altitudes for orthocentre, and so on. Drawing a simple triangle and sketching the lines helps fix the concept visually.


Final Answer:
The point of intersection of all the medians is called the centroid of the triangle.

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