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Properties of Quadrilaterals

Lesson

Solving problems

When solving angle problems in geometry one of the most important components is the reasoning (or rules) you use to solve the problem.  You will mostly be required in geometry problems to not only complete the mathematics associated with calculating angle or side lengths but also to state the reasons you have used.  Read through each of these rules and see if you can describe why and draw a picture to represent it.

Properties of quadrilaterals

All Quadrilaterals

Angle sum of an n-sided polygon is $\left(n-2\right)\times180$(n2)×180

 

Sum of exterior angles of a polygon is $360$360°

 

Angle sum of a quadrilateral is $360$360°

 

 

Parallelogram

  • Opposite sides in a parallelogram are parallel
  • Opposite angles in a parallelogram are equal
  • Opposite sides in a parallelogram are equal
  • Diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other 

 

Rectangle

  • Opposite sides in a rectangle are parallel
  • Opposite sides in a rectangle are equal
  • Diagonals of a rectangle bisect each other 
  • Diagonals in a rectangle are equal 

 

Square

  • All sides of a square are equal
  • Opposite sides in a square are parallel
  • Diagonals of a square are perpendicular to each other (cross at 90°)
  • Diagonals of a square bisect the angles at the vertices (makes them 45°)
  • Diagonals of a square bisect each other 
  • Diagonals of a square are equal 

 

Rhombus

  • Opposite angles of a rhombus are equal
  • Opposite sides in a rhombus are parallel
  • All sides of a rhombus are equal
  • Diagonals of a rhombus bisect each other at 90 degrees 
  • Diagonals of a rhombus bisect corner angles 
  • Diagonals of a rhombus bisect each other

 

Trapezium

  • An isosceles trapezium (trapezoid) has 2 pairs of adjacent angles equal
  • A trapezium (trapezoid) has one pair of opposite sides parallel
  • An isosceles trapezium (trapezoid) has one pair of opposites sides equal
  • Diagonals of an isosceles trapezium (trapezoid) are equal

 

Kite

  • A kite has 2 pairs of adjacent sides equal
  • A kite has 1 pair of opposite angles equal
  • The longest diagonal of a kite bisects the angles through which it passes 
  • Diagonals of a kite are perpendicular to each other 
  • The longest diagonal of a kite bisects the shorter diagonal

 

A summary of the geometrical properties of angles can be found here.  

A summary of the geometrical properties of triangles can be found here. 

A summary of the geometrical properties of angles in parallel lines can be found here. 

 

Worked Examples

Question 1

Consider what you know about parallelograms.

  1. Which of the following quadrilaterals are not parallelograms? Select all that apply.

    A four-sided polygon with blue squares at the four corners indicating that they are right angles. There are single line markings at the top and bottom sides indicating that these sides are of equal length. There are double line markings at the left and right sides indicating that these sides are of equal length.
    A

    A four-sided polygon with blue squares at the four corners indicating that they are right angles. There are single line markings on all four sides indicating that these sides are of equal length.
    B

    A four-sided polygon with single line markings at the top and bottom sides indicating that these sides are of equal length. There are double line markings at the left and right sides indicating that these sides are of equal length.
    C
    A four-sided polygon with single line markings on all four sides indicating that these sides are of equal length.
    D

    A four-sided polygon is depicted. The top side appears shorter than the bottom side. And the left side appears to be more slanted and longer than the right side.
    E
  2. In part (a), we found that the quadrilateral pictured below is not a parallelogram. What type of quadrilateral is it?

    A four-sided polygon is depicted. The top side appears shorter than the bottom side. And the left side appears to be more slanted and longer than the right side.

    A kite

    A

    A rhombus

    B

    A rectangle

    C

    A trapezium

    D

Question 2

Find the value of the pronumeral in the following figure.

Question 3

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