[Math] Prove line joining midpoints of non-parallel sides of trapezoid is parallel to the parallel sides of the trapezoid

geometry

If I have a trapezoid with two sides parallel, and a line going through the midpoints of the other two sides, how do I prove that this line is also parallel to the two parallel sides of the trapezoid?

Trapezoid

Assuming $AD || BC$ and $AE=EB$ and $DF=FC$, how do I prove that $EF||AD||BC$?

Best Answer

Without loss of generality, |AD|<|BC|. Draw a line passing through A and meeting BC at G and EF at H. Since AGCD is a parallelogram, H is the midpoint of AG. Note that triangles AEH and ABG are similar, hence, EH is parallel to BG, and the result follows.