Definition: A [b]midsegment of a triangle[/b] is a segment that connects the midpoints of any 2 sides of that triangle. [br]Question: How many midsegments does a triangle have? [br][br]Let's proceed:[br][br]In the applet below, points [color=#1551b5]D[/color] and [color=#c51414]E[/color] are midpoints of 2 sides of triangle ABC. One [color=#0a971e]midsegment[/color] of Triangle ABC is shown in [color=#0a971e]green[/color]. [br]Move the vertices A, B, and C of Triangle ABC around. As you do, observe the two comments off to the right side. [br]Then, answer the questions below the applet.

Questions: [br][br]1) What do you notice about the slopes of segments [color=#0a971e]DE[/color] and AB? What does this imply about these 2 segments? [br]2) What does the ratio of [color=#0a971e]DE[/color] to AB tell us about the [color=#0a971e]midsegment [/color]of any triangle? [br][br]3) If we refer to the black side of the triangle as the triangle's "3rd side", complete the following statement. Be sure to use the phrase "3rd side" in each blank below. [br][br] [b]The [color=#0a971e]MIDSEGMENT of a triangle[/color] is ALWAYS [br][br] i) ________________________________________________________________________, and[br][br] ii) ________________________________________________________________________. [/b]