Which quadrilateral is it?
Look at twelve four-sided shapes around you, from a carrom board to a Dhaka topi and a changa. Check their sides and angles, and sort them into squares, rectangles, rhombuses, parallelograms, trapeziums and kites.
Core concept
In short: Sort four-sided shapes by their sides and angles: square, rectangle, kite and more.
A quadrilateral has four sides and four angles adding up to 360°; its sides (equal or parallel) and angles (right or not) decide whether it is a square, rectangle, rhombus, parallelogram, trapezium or kite
Topic: Quadrilaterals
A quadrilateral is a closed shape with four straight sides, four corners and four angle: The amount of turn between two lines that meet, measured in degrees (°). All key words that always add up to 360°. Different quadrilaterals have different properties. A square has four equal sides and four right angles. A rectangle has opposite sides equal and four right angles. A rhombus has four equal sides, but its angles are not right angles. A parallelogram has opposite sides equal and parallel. A trapezium has just one pair of parallel sides. A kite has two pairs of equal sides next to each other. Look at the sides and angles of each shape to decide its name.
What you will learn
- Name the six special quadrilaterals.
- Describe each by its sides, angles and diagonals.
- Identify quadrilaterals in everyday objects.
- Know that the angles of any quadrilateral add up to 360°.
Before you start
- Know parallel lines and right angles.
Materials
- Paper, scissors, a ruler and a set square
Equipment
- A protractor
Procedure
- Pick a shape's card and check its sides and its angles.
- Do this for at least eight shapes.
- Sort every shape into its kind.