Let ABCDEF be a convex hexagon. Let A', B', C', D', E', F' be the centroids of triangles FAB, ABC, BCD, CDE, DEF, EFA, respectively. (a) Show that every pair of opposite sides in hexagon A'B'C'D'E'F' (namely A'B' and D'E', B'C' and E'F', and C'D' and F'A') are parallel and equal in length. (b) Show that triangles A'C'E' and B'D'F' have equal areas.
(a)
Let M be the midpoint of ¯BC, connect A to M. ¯AM must pass through G since G is the centroid and ¯AM is a median of △ABC. In addition, connect D to M, ¯DM must pass through H since H is the centroid and ¯DM is the median of △BCD.
∵MGMA=13=MHMD and ∠AMD=∠AMD∴ by SAS similarity, △MGH∼△MAD. Therefore¯GH∥¯AD and AD=3GH. Using the same method to prove △NKJ∼△NAD, we can conclude ¯KJ∥¯AD and AD=3KJ.∵AD=3GH and AD=3KJ∴GH=KJ, similarly ∵¯KJ∥¯AD and ¯GH∥¯AD∴¯KJ∥¯GH.
The same method is used to prove every pair of opposite sides in the hexagon are parallel and equal in length.
(b)
Let the parallel line of ¯HI through G and the parallel line of ¯GH through I intersect at . ∵¯GH∥¯OI and ¯GO∥¯HI∴GHIO is a parallelogram. Then, we can conclude [GHI]=[GOI]. ∵¯GH∥¯OI and ¯KJ∥¯GH∴¯OI∥¯KJ∵GH=OI and GH=KJ∴OI=KJ.
From this, we can conclude OIJK is also a parallelogram, which means [IOK]=[IJK]. ∵¯HI∥¯GO and ¯HI∥¯LK∴¯GO∥¯LK∵HI=GO and HI=LK∴GO=LK. From this, we can conclude GOKL is also a parallelogram, which means [GOK]=[GLK]. Therefore, [GHIJKL]=2[GIK]. Using the same method, we can conclude [GHIJKL]=2[LHJ], which means that [LHJ]=[GIK].
I hope this helped,
Gavin.