Let G be the centroid of ABC. The midpoints of sides ¯BC, ¯CA, and ¯AB are L, M, and N, respectively. Also, D is the foot of the altitude from A to ¯BC, and K is the foot of the altitude from L to ¯MN.
(a) Show that ADLK=2.
(b) Show that △ADG∼△LKG.
(c) Show that D,G, and K are collinear and that DGGK=2.
(a) Show that $\frac{AD}{LK}=2
Since N and M divide sides BA and CA in the same proportion.....then NM is parallel to BC
Thus, triangle NAM is similar to triangle BAC
And since AN = 1/2 of AB and similar triangles are similar in all parts, then the altitude of triangle NAM =1/2 altitude of triangle BAC
But altitude of triangle NAM = altitude of triangle NML = KL
And the altitude of triangle BAC = AD
So
altitude of BAC / altitude of NAM = 2/1
Which implies that
AD / KL = 2 /1 = 2
(a) Let P be the intersection of AD and MN, and let Q be the intersection of AL and MN. Then by Menelaus's Theorem, Q is the midpoint of PK. Since AD and LK are parallel, triangles ADL and LKQ are similar. And since Q is the midpoint of PK, QK = PK/2 = DL/2. Therefore, from the similar triangles, AD/LK = 2.
(b) Since QK = DL/2 and QG = LG/2, triangles GDL and GKQ are similar. Then KG = DG/2, so by part (a), triangles ADG and LKG are similar.
(c) In part (b), we found that triangle GDL and GKQ were similar. Then angle QKG = angle LDG, so D, G, and K are collinear. And by the similarity in part (b), DG/GK = 2. Easy!