Activity Detail
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Midsegment of a Trapezoid
 


Activity Overview

Students study the Midsegment Theorem for Trapezoids.

Before the Activity

Install the Cabri™: Jr. App on the students' graphing calculators using one of these two methods:
  • TI-Connect™,  a TI Connectivity Cable, and the Unit-to-Unit Link Cable
  • TI-Navigator™  "send to class" feature
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 45 - 47 from the attached PDF file for your class

    		•

    		During the Activity

    		Distribute the pages to the class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:
  • Construct a segment AB
  • Construct a segment CD parallel to AB (not of the same measure)
  • Construct segments AD and BC to form a trapezoid ABCD
  • Drag point A so that AD is not parallel to BC
  • Construct a midsegment by joining the midpoints of segments AD and BC
  • Alter the trapezoid and check whether the midsegment is parallel to segments AB and CD
  • The midsegment is parallel to the two parallel sides of the trapezoid
  • Measure the lengths of AB, CD, and the midsegment
  • Observe that the length of the midsegment is half the sum of the lengths of AB and CD
  • Alter the trapezoid
  • Observe that for all trapezoids, the length of the midsegment is half the lengths of the two parallel sides

    		After the Activity

    		Review student results:
  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary

    		Other Downloads




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    Subject Area:
    Math : Geometry : Quadrilaterals

    Author:
    Texas Instruments

    Level:
    9-12

    Activity Time:
    60 Minutes

    Device:
    TI-83 Plus Family, TI-84 Plus Family

    Apps:
    Cabri™ Jr.

    Software:
    Cabri Geometry™, TI Connect™

    Accessories:
    TI Connectivity Cable, Unit-to-Unit link cables

    Other:
    This is Activity 11 from the EXPLORATIONS Book:
    Exploring The Basics Of Geometry With Cabri



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