Talk:Symmedian

Symmedian

I added some motivation to the beginning of the article. (talk) 28 July 2012 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Silversheep (talk • contribs)

I came to this page aiming to learn what a symmedian point of a triangle is, because it is apparently used in constructing Steiner points. This article only succeeds in frustrating me. If a PhD candidate in a technical field can't make heads or tails of this, I think it should probably be completely re-written and checked for clarity by a smart person who is not a mathematician. There is too much jargon that only mathematicians and geometers understand. For example, 50% of the opening paragraph is dedicated to establishing arcane trivia about who 'invented' these things (can you invent a geometric property?) The graphic is confusing to the point that it is useless. I can see that there are points K, I, and G in there somewhere, and that they are close but not colocated. How are they calculated? I am willing to bet my shirt each of these things can be coherently described without conjuring the name of a 19th century French dude. Simply state the geometric elements involved! Instead, there is a brief paragraph below that attempts to say something, but speaks in such cryptic jargon as to defeat any possible communication. 72.225.131.167 (talk) 15:18, 23 February 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I have a few problems with this opening... allow me to elaborate

Symmedians are three special geometrical lines associated with every triangle. (What do you mean special?! What is the point of them) To construct one, start with a median of the triangle (a line connecting one vertex with the midpoint of the opposite side) then reflect it over the corresponding angle bisector (the line through the same vertex that divides the angle of the triangle there in two equal parts) (First, this doesn't make any sense, and second it belongs in the second paragraph) The resulting line is a symmedian (Gee thanks...).

Well, actually it does make sense, but it could be clearer. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.218.18.121 (talk) 02:49, 5 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I find this an excellent article...the only unclear point is the word "reflect" - what does this mean ?Cinnamon colbert (talk) 15:20, 5 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I agree, it's difficult. I tried rephrasing it but it's still not an easy read. Tempshill (talk) 17:01, 5 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

"Special" does seem a little NPOV and unscientific. I don't see why someone added the expert tag- this seems like a simple enough concept for us common Wiki editors to handle.. I vote for deleting the expert tag. - Eric (talk) 17:44, 5 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I can't see why special would seem unscientific. There's no judgement implied in this word, there are a number of certain "special" point and lines in geometry, such as circumcenter, perpendicular bisector, orthocenter and barycenter. See, for instance, the article on triangles, and the word special is used with the same meaning there too. Pablo.emanuel (talk) 22:56, 5 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]