What does a median of a triangle do?

A median of a triangle is a line segment that connects a vertex of the triangle to the midpoint of the opposite side. This means that it divides the opposite side into two equal segments, making those segments congruent. Therefore, when a median is drawn from a vertex to the midpoint of the opposite side, it effectively bisects that side.

To clarify the context for the other choices: the orthocenter is the point where the three altitudes of the triangle intersect, which is not related to the median's function. The statement about the length of the triangle's longest side is irrelevant because the median can vary in length and is not constrained to equality with the longest side. Finally, while the segment connecting midpoints of two sides is defined as a midsegment, this is not the definition of a median. Thus, the correct answer accurately reflects the defining characteristic of a median in a triangle.