Quadrilaterals

Learning Objective

Introduction

QuadrilateralsA four-sided polygon. are a special type of polygon. As with triangles and other polygons, quadrilaterals have special properties and can be classified by characteristics of their angles and sides. Understanding the properties of different quadrilaterals can help you in solving problems that involve this type of polygon.

Defining a Quadrilateral

Picking apart the name “quadrilateral” helps you understand what it refers to. The prefix “quad-” means “four,” and “lateral” is derived from the Latin word for “side.” So a quadrilateral is a four-sided polygon.

Since it is a polygonA closed plane figure with three or more straight sides., you know that it is a two-dimensional figure made up of straight sides. A quadrilateral also has four angles formed by its four sides. Below are some examples of quadrilaterals. Notice that each figure has four straight sides and four angles.

The image shows four two-dimensional figures, all with straight sides, called quadrilaterals: a square, an arrowhead, an irregular diamond shape, and a trapezoid.

Interior Angles of a Quadrilateral

The sum of the interior angles of any quadrilateral is `360^@`. Consider the two examples below.

The example images are both quadrilaterals. The first example shows a square, with all four right angles marked. Below the square is the equation 90 degrees plus 90 degrees plus 90 degrees equals 360 degrees. The second example shows a polygon in the shape of an irregular diamond. Measurements for the four angles are shown: 60 degrees, 109 degrees, 65 degrees, and 126 degrees. Below the polygon is the equation 60 degrees plus 109 degrees plus 65 degrees plus 126 degrees equals 360 degrees.

You could draw many quadrilaterals such as these and carefully measure the four angles. You would find that for every quadrilateral, the sum of the interior angles will always be `360^@`.

You can also use your knowledge of triangles as a way to understand why the sum of the interior angles of any quadrilateral is `360^@`. Any quadrilateral can be divided into two triangles as shown in the images below.

In the first image, the quadrilaterals have each been divided into two triangles. The angle measurements of one triangle are shown for each.

The image shows two quadrilaterals, an arrowhead and a trapezoid. Each can be divided into two identical triangles.. The angles for one triangle of the arrowhead are 15 degrees, 147 degrees, and 18 degrees. The angles are included in an equation: 15 degrees plus 147 degrees plus 18 degrees equals 180 degrees. The angles for one triangle of the trapezoid are 74 degrees, 76 degrees, and 30 degrees. The angles are included in an equation: 74 degrees plus 76 degrees plus 30 degrees equals 180 degrees.

These measurements add up to `180^@`. Now look at the measurements for the other triangles. They also add up to `180^@`!

The image shows two quadrilaterals, an arrowhead and a trapezoid. Each can be divided into two triangles. The angles for the second triangle of the arrowhead are 26 degrees, 130 degrees, and 24 degrees. The angles are included in an equation: 26 degrees plus 130 degrees plus 24 degrees equals 180 degrees. The angles for the second triangle of the trapezoid are 30 degrees, 104 degrees, and 46 degrees. The angles are included in an equation: 30 degrees plus 104 degrees plus 46 degrees equals 180 degrees.

Since the sum of the interior angles of any triangle is `180^@` and there are two triangles in a quadrilateral, the sum of the angles for each quadrilateral is `360^@`.

Specific Types of Quadrilaterals

Let’s start by examining the group of quadrilaterals that have two pairs of parallel sides. These quadrilaterals are called parallelogramsA quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel sides. They take a variety of shapes, but one classic example is shown below.

The image shows parallelogram A B C D. Side A B is parallel to side D C, and is the same length. Side A D is parallel to side B C, and is the same length. Opposite angles A and C are congruent. Opposite angles B and D are congruent.

Imagine extending the pairs of opposite sides. They would never intersect because they are parallel. Notice, also, that the opposite angles of a parallelogram are congruent, as are the opposite sides. (Remember that “congruent” means “the same size.”) The geometric symbol for congruent is `~=`, so you can write `angleA~=angleC` and `angleB~=angleD`. The parallel sides are also the same length: `bar(AB)~=bar(DC)` and `bar(BC)~=bar(AD)`. These relationships are true for all parallelograms.

There are two special cases of parallelograms that will be familiar to you from your earliest experiences with geometric shapes. The first special case is called a rectangleA quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel sides and four right angles.. By definition, a rectangle is a parallelogram because its pairs of opposite sides are parallel. A rectangle also has the special characteristic that all of its angles are right angles; all four of its angles are congruent.

The image shows a rectangle that has its four right angles marked. The opposite sides are parallel to one another and the lengths of each set of opposite sides are equal.

The other special case of a parallelogram is a special type of rectangle, a squareA quadrilateral whose sides are all congruent and which has four right angles.. A square is one of the most basic geometric shapes. It is a special case of a parallelogram that has four congruent sides and four right angles.

The image shows a square that has its four right angles marked. The opposite sides are parallel to one another and all four sides are equal.

A square is also a rectangle because it has two sets of parallel sides and four right angles. A square is also a parallelogram because its opposite sides are parallel. So, a square can be classified in any of these three ways, with “parallelogram” being the least specific description and “square,” the most descriptive.

Another quadrilateral that you might see is called a rhombusA quadrilateral with four congruent sides.. All four sides of a rhombus are congruent. Its properties include that each pair of opposite sides is parallel, also making it a parallelogram.

The image shows a rhombus that has its four angles marked. The opposite angles are congruent. The length of all four sides is equal. The opposite sides are parallel to one another.

In summary, all squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares. All rectangles are parallelograms, but not all parallelograms are rectangles. And all of these shapes are quadrilaterals.

The diagram below illustrates the relationship between the different types of quadrilaterals.

A diagram shows a large oval labeled “Quadrilaterals.” Inside the oval is the label “Parallelograms” and three parallelograms are shown. Also inside the large “Quadrilaterals” oval is a medium-sized oval labeled “Rectangles” and two rectangles are shown. Inside the Rectangles oval is the last and smallest oval, labeled “Squares,” with two squares shown.

You can use the properties of parallelograms to solve problems. Consider the example that follows.

Example

Problem

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine the measures of `angleM` and `bbangleL`.

 

An image shows parallelogram J K L M. Side J K is parallel to and congruent with side L M. Side J M is parallel to and congruent with side K L. Angle J is 60 degrees and is opposite angle L. Angle K is 120 degrees and is opposite angle M.

 

 


`angleL` is opposite `angleJ`


`angleM` is opposite `angleK`

Identify opposite angles.

 

`angleL~=angleJ` 

 `angleM~=angleK` 

A property of parallelograms is that opposite angles are congruent.

 

`mangleJ=60^@`, so `mangleL=60^@`

`mangleK=120^@`, so `mangleM=120^@`

Use the given angle measurements to determine measures of opposite angles.

Answer

   `mangleL=60^@text( and )mangleM=120^@`

 

Trapezoids

There is another special type of quadrilateral. This quadrilateral has the property of having only one pair of opposite sides that are parallel. Here is one example of a trapezoidA quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides..

An image shows that polygon W X Y Z is a trapezoid. Side X Y is opposite and parallel to side W Z. Side W X is opposite side Z Y, but they are not parallel.

Notice that `bar(XY)text(||)bar(WZ)`, and that `bar(WX)` and `bar(ZY)` are not parallel. You can easily imagine that if you extended sides `bar(WX)` and `bar(ZY)`, they would intersect above the figure.

If the non-parallel sides of a trapezoid are congruent, the trapezoid is called an isosceles trapezoidA trapezoid with one pair of parallel sides and another pair of opposite sides that are congruent.. Like the similarly named triangle that has two sides of equal length, the isosceles trapezoid has a pair of opposite sides of equal length. The other pair of opposite sides is parallel. Below is an example of an isosceles trapezoid.

An image shows that polygon A B C D is an isosceles trapezoid. Side B C is opposite and parallel to side A D. Side A B is not parallel to opposite side D C, but they are the same length.

In this trapezoid `ABCD`, `bar(BC)text(||)bar(AD)` and `bar(AB)~=bar(CD)`.

Which of the following statements is true?

 

A) Some trapezoids are parallelograms.

 

B) All trapezoids are quadrilaterals.

 

C) All rectangles are squares.

 

D) A shape cannot be a parallelogram and a quadrilateral.

 

 

You can use the properties of quadrilaterals to solve problems involving trapezoids. Consider the example below.

Example

Problem

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find the measure of `angleQ`.

 

An image shows that polygon P Q R S  is a trapezoid. Side S P is opposite and parallel to side R Q. Side P Q  is opposite side S R, but they are not parallel. Angle R and angle S are marked as right angles. Angle P is labeled as 60 degrees. Angle Q is not labeled.

 

 

 

`mangleP+mangleQ+mangleR+mangleS=360^@`

The sum of the measures of the interior angles of a quadrilateral is `360^@`.

 

`mangleR=90^@`

`mangleS=90^@`

 

The square symbol indicates a right angle.

 

`60^@+mangleQ+90^@+90^@=360^@`

Since three of the four angle measures are given, you can find the fourth angle measurement.

 

 

`mangleQ+240^@=360^@`

`mangleQ=120^@`

 

 

 

 

Now, for `angleQ`, calculate the measurement. From the image, you can see that it is an obtuse angle, so its measure must be greater than `90^@`.

Answer

`mangleQ=120^@`

 

       

The table below summarizes the special types of quadrilaterals and some of their properties.

Name of Quadrilateral

Quadrilateral

Description

Parallelogram

 

The image shows a parallelogram with opposite angles marked to indicate that they are congruent, and opposite sides marked to indicate that they are congruent.

 

`2` pairs of parallel sides.

 

Opposite sides and opposite angles are congruent.

Rectangle

 

The image shows a rectangle. The four right angles are marked and all are congruent. The opposite sides are parallel to one another and congruent.

 

`2` pairs of parallel sides.

 

`4` right angles (`90^@`).

 

Opposite sides are parallel and congruent.

 

All angles are congruent.

Square

 

The image shows a square. The four right angles are marked and all are congruent. The opposite sides are parallel to one another and congruent.

 

`4` congruent sides.

 

`4` right angles (`90^@`).

 

Opposite sides are parallel.

 

All angles are congruent.

Trapezoid

 

The image shows a trapezoid. The top and bottom sides are parallel to each other. The left and right sides are not parallel to each other.

 

Only one pair of opposite sides is parallel.

Summary

A quadrilateral is a mathematical name for a four-sided polygon. Parallelograms, squares, rectangles, and trapezoids are all examples of quadrilaterals. These quadrilaterals earn their distinction based on their properties, including the number of pairs of parallel sides they have and their angle and side measurements.