Parallelogram

Parallelogram is a four-sided polygon (quadrilateral) where opposite sides are parallel and equal in length. A key feature of parallelograms is that they have two sets of parallel lines, which gives them their name. Examples of parallelograms include squares, rectangles, and rhombuses, which are all specific types of parallelograms with additional unique properties.

Characteristics of the Parallelogram

  • Sides opposite in a quadrilateral: are sides that do not have a common meeting point.
  • Adjacent sides in a quadrilateral: are sides that have a common meeting point.
  • Adjacent angles: are 2 angles that have a common vertex and side.
  • Opposite angles in the quadrilateral are angles that do not have common sides.
  • Diagonal: is a section that connects 2 non-adjacent vertices (and is not a side)

If the data is:

  • ABǁCD AB ǁ CD
  • ADǁBC AD ǁ BC

Then: ABCD ABCD is a parallelogram

Parallelogram

A1 - Parallelogram KLMN

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Test yourself on parallelogram!

einstein

Calculate the area of the following parallelogram:

101010888101010888666

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Basic Concepts on the Topic of the Parallelogram

Did you notice the quadrilateral that is formed at the intersection of 2 train tracks? What is it called? What are its characteristics? Let's take a look at the train tracks, why are train tracks 2 parallel tracks? For the train to not derail, there must be 2 tracks that always maintain the same distance apart. This is the definition of parallel lines that never meet because the distance between them is always equal. This is the definition of parallel lines that never meet because the distance between them is always equal. At the moment when 2 train tracks meet, a quadrilateral is formed between them, which has 2 pairs of opposite sides parallel, which is the parallelogram


Vertically opposite angles: 2 straight lines that cross each other to form 4 angles at their meeting point. The 2 non-adjacent angles are called vertices.

Important to know: vertically opposite angles are equal.    

1 Vertically opposite angles


Corresponding angles between parallels: the line that crosses 2 parallel lines forms around each intersection point with each line 4 angles. Any pair of angles that are in the same position around the intersection points are called corresponding angles. When the lines are parallel, the corresponding angles are also equal

Corresponding angles between parallels


Alternate interior angles between parallels: each angle around an upper intersection point with the vertex to the corresponding angle around a second intersection point forms a pair of alternate angles. A hallmark: it is possible to look for angles in the shape of a Z in the cut of the straight lines. When the lines are parallel, the cut creates equal alternate angles.

Alternate interior angles between parallels


Consecutive interior angles between parallels: any angle around an upper intersection point with the adjacent angle corresponding to that side around a second intersection point. The sum of the unilateral angles between parallels is 180 o

Consecutive interior angles between parallels


  • Bisector: divides the angle into 2 equal parts.

Characteristics of the Parallelogram

So, what are the properties of this special quadrilateral called a parallelogram? Get a brief summary


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The opposite sides in a parallelogram are equal.

Opposite sides in a parallelogram are equal

  • ABǁDC AB ǁ DC (by definition of the parallelogram). Therefore: angle A2=C1 A2 = C1 (alternate angles between equal parallels)
  • ADǁBC AD ǁ BC (by the definition of parallels). Therefore: A1=C2 A1 = C2 (alternate angles between equal parallels)
  • AC=AC AC = AC (Common side) therefore it can be concluded that: ΔADCΔCBA ΔADC≅ΔCBA (according to the congruence theorem: angle, side, angle)
    For this: AB=DC,AD=BC AB = DC, AD = BC congruent equals)

This congruence leads us to the following property:


The opposite angles at the vertex in a parallelogram are equal.

ΔADCΔCBA ΔADC≅ΔCBA (proven in the previous sentence)

Therefore:

  • Angles B=D B = D (corresponding angles in equal congruent triangles)
  • And also C1+C2=A1+A1 C1 + C2 = A1 + A1 (sum of equal angles)
  • Therefore: Angles A=C \sphericalangle A=\sphericalangle C (sum of angles)
Do you know what the answer is?

The diagonals in the parallelogram intersect

The diagonals in the parallelogram intersect

Let's demonstrate that:

  • AO=CO AO=CO
  • BO=DO BO=DO

To do this, we will superimpose the triangles: ΔAOB ΔAOB with ΔCOD ΔCOD

  • AB=DC AB = DC Opposite sides are equal in a parallelogram
  • ABǁDC AB ǁ DC by the definition of the parallelogram 

Therefore:

  • Angles B1=D1 B1 = D1
  • Angles A1=C1 A1 = C1

According to the theorem alternate angles between equal parallels, therefore:

OBAOBΔCOD OBAOB ≅ ΔCOD (according to the congruence theorem: angle, side, angle)

From the congruence, it can be deduced:

  • AO=CO AO=CO
  • BO=DO BO=DO

According to corresponding sides in equal congruent triangles


Parallelogram Practice

We will check in the following exercise if we understood the properties of the parallelogram:

Find the following values in the parallelogram:

  • x x
  • y y
  • tt
  • k k
  • α \alpha
  • β \beta
Find the following values in the parallelogram

Observing the properties of the parallelogram:

  • The opposite sides are equal therefore
    • Y=7 Y=7
    • X=5 X=5
  • The diagonals intersect therefore
    • k=4.5 k=4.5
    • t=4 t=4
  • The alternate angles between parallels are equal therefore
    • β=50° β=50°
    • α=30° α=30°

Check your understanding

Calculation of the Perimeter of the Parallelogram

The calculation of the perimeter of a parallelogram is twice the sum of 2 adjacent sides, therefore

24cm=7×2+5×2 24cm=7\times2+5\times2


Calculation of the Area of a Parallelogram

To calculate the area of a parallelogram we will draw a line from one of the vertices perpendicular to the opposite side.

Area of the parallelogram = base x height


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Calculation of the Area of a Parallelogram Using Trigonometry

It is possible to calculate the area of a parallelogram even without height, using trigonometry: by multiplying 2 adjacent sides by the sine of the angle between them.

Sometimes, the fact that the diagonals divide the parallelogram into 4 4 equilateral triangles, allows us through the use of the halves of the diagonals and the sine of the angle between them to find the area of the parallelogram. It is enough to find a single triangle and multiply it by 4 4 .


Parallelogram Verification

What are the necessary conditions to prove that a quadrilateral is a parallelogram?

Definition: A quadrilateral that has 2 pairs of opposite sides parallel is called a parallelogram.

What are the additional theorems that allow us to determine without information that the opposite sides are parallel that the quadrilateral is a parallelogram?


Test your knowledge

A quadrilateral where 2 pairs of opposite sides are equal is a parallelogram.

According to the figure AB=DC AD=BC

According to the figure

  • AB=DC AB=DC
  • AD=BC AD=BC
  • AC=AC AC = AC This is a common side

It can be concluded:

  • ΔABCΔCDA ΔABC ≅ ΔCDA According to the congruence theorem: side, side, side

Therefore:

  • BAC=ACD \sphericalangle BAC=\sphericalangle ACD
  • ACB=DAC \sphericalangle ACB=\sphericalangle DAC

According to the theorem corresponding angles in congruent triangles are equal

Therefore:

ABǁDC AB ǁ DC

  • ADǁBC AD ǁ BC [when alternate angles are equal - the lines are parallel]

Therefore, ABCD ABCD is a parallelogram (2 pairs of opposite sides are parallel)


A quadrilateral where there are 2 pairs of equal opposite angles is a parallelogram.

a quadrilateral where there are 2 pairs of equal opposite angles is a parallelogram

We will mark:

  • Angles α=B=D α = B = D
  • Angles β=A=C β=A=C
  • The sum of the angles in a quadrilateral is 360o 360^o Therefore, the equation 2α+2β=360o 2α+2β=360^o is obtained
    Divide the equation by 2 and obtain: 180o=β+α 180^o=β+α

Therefore

  • ABǁDC AB ǁ DC
  • ADǁBC AD ǁ BC {when the sum of the angles on one side is 180o 180^o then they are parallel lines}
  • ABCD ABCD is a parallelogram (when there are 2 pairs of opposite sides parallel it is a parallelogram)

Do you know what the answer is?

A quadrilateral where the diagonals cross each other is a parallelogram.

Image of a parallelogram

When given:

  • AO=CO AO=CO
  • BO=DO BO=DO

And the angle trapped between them:

  • AOB=DOC \sphericalangle AOB=\sphericalangle DOC (Vertically opposite angles are equal)

It can be concluded that: ΔABOΔCOD ΔABO≅ΔCOD (according to the congruence theorem: side, angle, side)

Therefore:

  • AB=CD AB = CD (corresponding sides in congruent triangles are equal)

In the same way, we will superimpose ΔBOC ΔBOC with ΔAOD ΔAOD

According to the data:

Therefore:

  • ΔBOCΔDOA ΔBOC ≅ ΔDOA (according to the congruence theorem: side, angle, side)
  • And we obtain: AD=BC AD = BC (corresponding sides in congruent triangles are equal)

Therefore: ABCD ABCD is a parallelogram (2 pairs of opposite sides equal, the quadrilateral is a parallelogram)


A quadrilateral where a pair of opposite sides is parallel and equal is a parallelogram.

Image of a parallelogram

When the data is:

  • AB=DC AB=DC
  • ABǁDC AB ǁ DC

Then:

  • BAC=ACD \sphericalangle BAC=\sphericalangle ACD
  • ABD=BDC \sphericalangle ABD=\sphericalangle BDC
    According to the theorem alternate angles between equal parallels

Therefore:

From the congruence:

  • AO=CO AO=CO
  • BO=DO BO = DO (corresponding sides in equal congruent triangles)

Therefore: ABCD ABCD is a parallelogram (a quadrilateral where the diagonals cross is a parallelogram)


Check your understanding

Parallelogram Exercises

Exercise 1

Assignment

Given the quadrilateral ABCD ABCD

Given that:

D=95o \sphericalangle D=95^o

C=85o \sphericalangle C=85^o

Is it possible to determine if this quadrilateral is a parallelogram?

1- Parallelogram exercises - Given the quadrilateral ABCD

Solution

In fact, this quadrilateral is a parallelogram because two angles are adjacent

the same side, complementary to: 180o 180^o

Answer

Yes


Exercise 2

Assignment

Given the quadrilateral ABCD ABCD

Given that:

A=100o \sphericalangle A=100^o

C=80o \sphericalangle C=80^o

Is it possible to determine if this quadrilateral is a parallelogram?

2- Parallelogram exercises - Given the quadrilateral ABCD

Solution

In fact, this quadrilateral is a parallelogram because two angles are adjacent

the same side, complementary to: 180o 180^o

Answer

Yes


Do you think you will be able to solve it?

Exercise 3

Assignment

Given the quadrilateral ABCD ABCD

3- Parallelogram exercises - Given the quadrilateral ABCD

such that:

A=100° ∢A=100° ,

And... C=70° ∢C=70°

Is it possible to determine if this quadrilateral is a parallelogram?

Solution:

The definition of a parallelogram is a quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel sides.

In this case, the quadrilateral is not a parallelogram because two adjacent angles on the same side do not add up to 180o180^o degrees

Answer:

No


Exercise 4

Assignment

Given the quadrilateral ABCD ABCD

AB=20 AB=20

CD=20 CD=20

BD=8 BD=8

AC=8 AC=8

Is it possible to determine if this quadrilateral is a parallelogram?

4.Parallelogram exercises - Given the quadrilateral ABCD

Solution

In fact, this quadrilateral is a parallelogram because if in a quadrilateral two pairs of opposite sides are of the same length, then the quadrilateral is a parallelogram.

Answer

Yes


Test your knowledge

Exercise 5

Assignment

Given the quadrilateral ABCD ABCD

AF=4 AF=4

FD=6 FD=6

BF=2 BF=2

FC=3 FC=3

Is it possible to determine if this quadrilateral is a parallelogram?

New parallelogram exercises - Given the quadrilateral ABCD

Solution

This quadrilateral is not a parallelogram because a quadrilateral whose diagonals intersect is a parallelogram. In this case, the diagonals do not intersect each other.

Answer

No


Do you know what the answer is?

Examples with solutions for Parallelogram

Exercise #1

Calculate the area of the following parallelogram:

666555

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the exercise, we need to remember the formula for the area of a parallelogram:

Side * Height perpendicular to the side

We can identify that in the diagram, although it's not presented in the way we're familiar with, we are given the two essential pieces of information -

Side = 6

Height = 5

Let's substitute into the formula and calculate:

6*5=30

And that's the solution!

Answer

30 cm²

Exercise #2

Below is a quadrilateral:

Is it possible that it is a parallelogram?

AAABBBCCCDDDOOO108810

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the properties of the parallelogram: the diagonals intersect each other.

From the data in the drawing, it follows that diagonal AC and diagonal BD are divided into two equal parts, that is, the diagonals intersect each other:

AO=OC=8 AO=OC=8

DO=OB=10 DO=OB=10

Therefore, the quadrilateral is actually a parallelogram.

Answer

Yes

Exercise #3

Below is a quadrilateral:

Is it possible that it is a parallelogram?

AAABBBCCCDDD1206012060

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's review the property: a quadrilateral in which two pairs of opposite angles are equal is a parallelogram.

From the data in the drawing, it follows that:

D=B=60 D=B=60

A=C=120 A=C=120

Therefore, the quadrilateral is actually a parallelogram.

Answer

Yes

Exercise #4

Below is a quadrilateral:

Is it possible that it is a parallelogram?

AAABBBCCCDDD711811

Step-by-Step Solution

According to the properties of a parallelogram, any two opposite sides will be equal to each other.

From the data, it can be observed that only one pair of opposite sides are equal and therefore the quadrilateral is not a parallelogram.

Answer

No

Exercise #5

Calculate the area of the parallelogram according to the data in the diagram.

101010777AAABBBCCCDDDEEE

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Since we know that ABCD is a parallelogram, according to the properties of parallelograms, each pair of opposite sides are equal and parallel.

Therefore CD=AB=10 CD=AB=10

We will calculate the area of the parallelogram using the formula of side multiplied by the height drawn from that side, so the area of the parallelogram is equal to:

SABCD=10×7=70cm2 S_{ABCD}=10\times7=70cm^2

Answer

70

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