The figure formed by joining the mid-points of consecutive sides of a quadrilateral is a Parallelogram.
Explanation:
A quadrilateral is a polygon with four sides. Let's consider a quadrilateral ABCD, where AB, BC, CD, and DA are the four sides.
Now, let's join the mid-points of the consecutive sides of the quadrilateral. Let the midpoints of AB, BC, CD, and DA be E, F, G, and H respectively.
To prove that the figure formed is a parallelogram, we need to show that opposite sides are parallel and equal in length.
1. Opposite sides are parallel:
- Join EF and GH. These diagonals divide the quadrilateral ABCD into four triangles: AEF, BFG, CGH, and DHG.
- By the Midpoint Theorem, EF is parallel to AB and GH is parallel to CD.
- Similarly, EG is parallel to AD and FH is parallel to BC.
- Therefore, opposite sides EF and GH are parallel, and opposite sides EG and FH are parallel.
2. Opposite sides are equal in length:
- By the Midpoint Theorem, EF = 1/2 AB and GH = 1/2 CD.
- Similarly, EG = 1/2 AD and FH = 1/2 BC.
- Therefore, opposite sides EF and GH are equal in length, and opposite sides EG and FH are equal in length.
Since the figure has opposite sides parallel and equal in length, it satisfies the definition of a parallelogram.
Hence, the figure formed by joining the mid-points of consecutive sides of a quadrilateral is a parallelogram.
Note: It is important to note that the converse of this statement is also true. That is, if a quadrilateral is a parallelogram, then the midpoints of its sides will form a parallelogram.