Steiner's Theorem

Steiner's Theorem states that in a trapezoid $ABCD$ with $AB\parallel CD$ and $AD\nparallel BC$ , we have that the midpoint of $AB$ and $CD$ , the intersection of diagonals $AC$ and $BD$ , and the intersection of the sides $AD$ and $BC$ are collinear.

Proof

Let $E$ be the intersection of $AD$ and $BC$ , $F$ be the midpiont of $AB$ , $G$ be the midpoint of $CD$ , and $H$ be the intersection of $AC$ and $BD$ . We now claim that $\triangle EAF \sim \triangle EDG$ . First note that, since $\angle DEC=\angle AEB$ and $\angle EAB=\angle EDC$ [this is because $AB\parallel CD$ ], we have that $\triangle EDC\sim \triangle EAB$ . Then $\frac{EA}{AB}=\frac{ED}{DC}$ , and $\frac{AF}{AB}=\frac{DG}{DC}=\frac{1}{2}$ , so $\frac{EA}{AF}=\frac{ED}{DG}$ . We earlier stated that $\angle EDC=\angle EAB$ , so we have that $\triangle EAF \sim \triangle EDG$ from SAS similarity. We have that $E$ , $A$ , and $D$ are collinear, and since $F$ and $G$ are on the same side of line $AD$ , we can see that $\triangle EAF \sim \triangle EDG$ from SAS. Therefore $EF \parallel EG$ , so $E$ , $F$ , and $G$ are collinear.

Now consider triangles $HBA$ and $HDC$ . Segments $AC$ and $BD$ are transversal lines, so it's not hard to see that $\triangle HAB \sim \triangle HCD$ . It's also not hard to show that $\triangle HBE$ \sim \triangle HDF $by SAS similarity. Therefore$ \angle BHE=\angle DHF $, which implies that$ F $,$ G $, and$ H$ are collinear. This completes the proof.

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Steiner's Theorem

Proof

See also