Name: _________________

Balancing Triangles
Form groups of three. 1. Draw and cut out a large triangle First person: scalene triangle Second person: isosceles triangle Third person: equilateral triangle 2. Construct the three medians of your triangle and label one as median. 3. Try to balance your triangle on your pencil by cutting a tiny hole at the centroid and placing the tip of the pencil through that hole. Does it work? Write yes or no in the appropriate space in the chart below. 4. On the back of your triangle try using angle bisectors instead of medians. Label one of the segments as angle bisector. 5. Does the triangle balance at the point the angle bisectors meet? Write yes or no in the appropriate space in the chart below. 6. Cut out another triangle (congruent to your first one) and try using altitudes. Label one of the segments altitude. 7. Does the triangle balance at the point the altitudes meet? Write yes or no in the appropriate space in the chart below. 8. Finally, on the back of your second triangle try using perpendicular bisectors. Label one of the segments perpendicular bisector. 9. Does the triangle balance at the point the perpendicular bisectors meet? Write yes or no in the appropriate space in the chart below.

DOES IT Medians Angle BALANCE Bisector ? s Scalene

Altitudes Perpendicul ar Bisectors

Isosceles Equilater al