Education Technology

Exploring the Circumcenter of a Triangle

Subject Area
Math: Geometry: Circles
Math: Geometry: Triangles
Level
9-12
Activity Time
30 Minutes
Software
TI Connect™
TI Calculator
TI-84 series
Resource Types
Lessons

Exploring the Circumcenter of a Triangle

Activity Overview

In this activity, students develop an understanding of the circumcenter of a triangle. Students construct perpendicular bisectors of three sides of a triangle and find the circumcenter. NCTM Geometry Standard covered: Analyze characteristics and properties of 2- and 3-dimensional geometric shapes and develop mathematical arguments about geometric relationships.

Before the Activity

  • Install the Cabri Jr. App on the students' graphing calculators using TI Connect™, a TI Connectivity Cable, and the Unit-to-Unit Link Cable
  • Set up the TI-Navigator™ system
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 17-18 from the attached PDF file for your class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to your class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:

  • Draw a triangle
  • Draw the perpendicular bisector of each side of the triangle
  • Find the circumcenter, which is the point where all the bisectors intersect
  • Explore properties of the circumcenter


  • TI-Navigator activity:
  • Save this file as an APP VAR for later exploration and investigation. (Activity 13)
  • After the Activity

    Review student results:

  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary
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    Subject Area
    Math: Geometry: Circles
    Math: Geometry: Triangles
    Level
    9-12
    Activity Time
    30 Minutes
    Software
    TI Connect™
    TI Calculator
    TI-84 series
    Resource Types
    Lessons
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