Like all polygons that have more than three sides, quadrilaterals can be convex like these, ,, or concave like these. Just as triangles and quadrilaterals are special types of polygons, there are many subclasses of quadrilaterals. Lateral means “side” (think of football, for example). Quadri- (four) + -lateral (side) means “four-sided.”Ĭompare quadri- to Spanish cuatro. squares ( B), the most special of them all.
rhombuses ( C and D are the “typical” examples, but all squares also fit the definition of rhombuses).rectangles ( F is the “typical” example, but all squares also fit the definition of rectangles).parallelograms ( E is the “typical” example, but all rectangles and rhombuses also fit the definition of parallelograms).trapezoids ( A and J are “typical” examples, but all parallelograms also fit the definition of trapezoids).See the articles on each type for their definitions and special properties. Most of the time, context will make clear what you mean, but you should remain aware that in some cases you may need to clarify.Įlementary school curricula typically have children learn the names of special subsets of quadrilaterals with particular features. The usual definitions of polygons, however, refer only to the line segments that form the edges of the polygon. When we talk about “dissecting” a parallelogram and rearranging the parts to form a rectangle in order to determine the area of the parallelogram, we are clearly referring to the edges and the interior. (This also means that a quadrilateral has exactly four vertices, and exactly four angles.)ĭiscussions of 2-D shapes sometimes refer only to the boundary (the line segments that form the edges of the figure) or to the interior as well. (This also means that a quadrilateral has exactly four vertices, and exactly four angles.) MeaningĪ quadrilateral is a polygon that has exactly four sides. A quadrilateral is a polygon that has exactly four sides.
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