Activity Overview
In this activity students explore the locus of mid-point of the hypotenuse of a fixed length geometrically and algebraically and discover that the median a right triangle is equal to half the length of the hypotenuse. Students then prove this property. The problem: A ladder leans upright against a wall that is perpendicular to the floor. A painter is standing at the midpoint of the ladder. If the bottom of the ladder begins to slide away from the wall, what path will his feet follow?
Before the Activity
Download attached file Ladder Revisited.doc and read through the activity before doing it in class with the students.
During the Activity
Download attached Ladder_Revisited.tns file and distribute it to the students.