What is the difference between altitude and median of a triangle

This statement alone is not sufficient. The altitude is also a median. So the triangle is equilateral! So angle A must be 60 degrees. Therefore the correct answer is C. And the ever-important takeaway from this problem: here we were able to use our knowledge of how medians, altitudes, and angle bisectors appear in special types of triangles to prove that we were dealing with a special, equilateral triangle.

This is an important lesson both for the concepts of medians and altitudes and for GMAT geometry as a whole, particularly in Data Sufficiency.

You have to be proactively on the lookout for special triangles, because special triangles allow you to determine quite a few facts from a limited set of information. So it is very important that you:. Karishma , a Computer Engineer with a keen interest in alternative Mathematical approaches, has mentored students in the continents of Asia, Europe and North America. Studying for the GMAT? Call now to speak to an academic advisor: We're open -- Call Now.

Skip to content. Have you taken the GMAT before? Yes No. How soon do you need help? Right away In a few weeks Not sure. What is your name? What is the difference between medians and altitudes? Answer: The difference between medians and altitudes is that a median is drawn from a vertex of the triangle to the midpoint of the opposite side, whereas an altitude is drawn from a vertex of the triangle to the opposite side being perpendicular to it.

Explanation: Let's list down the differences below in the tabular form. Medians Altitudes It is drawn from a vertex of the triangle to the midpoint of the opposite side. Altitude of a triangle is a line segment perpendicular to a side and passing through the vertex opposing the side. Since a triangle has 3 sides, they each have a unique altitude per side giving a total of 3 altitudes per triangles. The side to which the altitude is perpendicular is known as the extended base of the altitude.

Altitude is commonly denoted by the letter h as in height. Altitudes are specifically used in calculating the area of triangles. The area of a triangle is half the product of the altitude and its base. Also, the point of intersection of the three altitudes from the sides is known as the orthocenter.

The orthocenter lies within the triangle if and only if the triangle is an acute triangle.