Section 1.5 – Special Points
in Triangles
Concurrent – intersect
The perpendicular bisectors of a
intersect at a single point.
That point is called the circumcenter.
The angle bisectors of a intersect at a single point.
That point of intersection is called the incenter.
Median – a segment in a triangle drawn from each vertex to the midpoint of the opposite side.
The medians of a are concurrent. The
point of intersection is called the centroid. The centroid is also the center of mass of a rotating body about
the centroid.
Altitude – a perpendicular line segment from a vertex of a triangle to the line containing the opposite side.
Special Circles Related to
Triangles
Inscribed Circle – a circle drawn inside the circle and just touches its 3 sides.
Circumscribed Circle
– a circle drawn around the outside of the triangle and contains all three
vertices (angles).