The Midsegment of a Trapezoid
In a trapezoid ABCD (with ) if M is the middle of AB and N is the middle of CD then MN is called the midsegment of the trapezoid.
MN is parallel with BC and DA and is equal with the arithmetic mean of BC and DA:
(in a convex trapezoid)
Proof:
Let P be the middle of the segment AC.
In the triangle ABC, M is the middle of AB and P is the middle of CA so MP is the midsegment of the triangle ABC. This means that and
.
In the triangle ACD, P is the middle of AC and N is the middle of CD so PN is the midsegment of the triangle ACD. This means that and
.
and
so
. But also
so M, P and N are collinear points. Because ABCD is convex and P is the middle of AC, and M, N are on the sides of the trapezoid, P must be between M and N on the line. So
.
M, N and P are collinear, and and
.
So and
.