A quadrilateral whose sides (or edges) are all equal and all its angles are also equal, is a square. Furthermore, a square is a combination of a parallelogram, a rhombus, and a rectangle. Therefore, the square has all the properties of the parallelogram, the rhombus, and the rectangle.
In a square, there are two pairs of opposite sides that are parallel.
The diagonals of the square intersect, are perpendicular, and equal.
The diagonals of the square are bisectors.
Proof of the Square
If all sides and angles of a quadrilateral are equal, we can determine that it is a square. How can we prove that a quadrilateral is a square if we have no data? We will proceed in the following order:
We will prove that the quadrilateral is a parallelogram.
We will prove that the parallelogram is a rectangle or rhombus.
We will prove that the rectangle or rhombus is a square.
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Test your knowledge
Question 1
Look at the square below:
Is a square a parallelogram?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
Yes
Question 2
Look at the square below:
Is a rhombus a square?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
No
Question 3
Look at the square below:
Is the square a rhombus?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
Yes
Area of the Square
The area of a square is equal to the length of one of its sides multiplied by itself.
We will indicate the area of the square with the letter A and the side (or edge) of the square with the letter a. The formula will be: A=a×a or A=a2
Square
The square is a very special figure. In this article, we will learn everything that needs to be known about the square and discover its incredible properties.
Do you know what the answer is?
Question 1
Look at the square below:
Is a square a rectangle?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
Yes
Question 2
Look at the square below:
Is a trapezoid a square?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
No
Question 3
Is a square a trapezoid?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
Yes
What is a square?
The square is a combination of a parallelogram, a rhombus, and a rectangle Therefore, the square has all the properties of the parallelogram, the rhombus, and the rectangle. We will summarize all its properties here:
All sides of the square are equal.
All angles of the square are 90 degrees.
In a square, there are two pairs of opposite sides that are parallel.
The diagonals of the square intersect, are perpendicular, and equal.
The diagonals of the square are bisectors.
Let's look at all the properties in an illustration
Square
Check your understanding
Question 1
Look at the square below:
Is a deltoid a square?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
No
Question 2
Look at the square above:
Is a square a deltoid?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
Yes
Question 3
Look at the square below:
What is the area of the square equivalent to?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
\( 25 \)
How can you prove that a certain quadrilateral is a square?
If you have a quadrilateral in front of you and you know that all its sides (or edges) are equal and all its angles are also equal, you can conclude that it is a square!
Moreover, in certain cases, you can prove that the quadrilateral you have is a rhombus or a rectangle and, from this point, you can find the property that proves that said rectangle or rhombus is a square.
How can we prove that a quadrilateral is a square if we don't have any data?
First step
We will demonstrate that the quadrilateral is a parallelogram.
Don't remember how to prove that a certain quadrilateral is a parallelogram? Reminder of proofs:
Any quadrilateral whose opposite sides are also parallel is a parallelogram.
Any quadrilateral whose opposite sides are also equal to each other, is a parallelogram.
If in a certain quadrilateral there is a pair of opposite sides that are equal and also parallel, the quadrilateral is a parallelogram.
If the diagonals of the quadrilateral intersect, it is a parallelogram.
If in a certain quadrilateral there are two pairs of opposite angles that are equal, it is a parallelogram.
Do you think you will be able to solve it?
Question 1
Look at the square below:
What is its area?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
\( 169 \)
Question 2
Look at the square below:
What is the area of the square?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
\( 900 \)
Question 3
Look at the square below:
What is the area of the square?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
\( 144 \)
Second step
We will demonstrate that the parallelogram is a rectangle or rhombus.
Third step
We will demonstrate that the rectangle or rhombus is a square.
Test your knowledge
Question 1
Given the square:
What is the area of the square?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
\( 49 \)
Question 2
Look at the square below:
What is the area of the square equivalent to?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
\( 196 \)
Question 3
Look at the square below:
Is a parallelogram a square?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
No
How do you prove that a rhombus is a square?
If you have a rhombus in front of you, you can determine that it is a square if at least one of the following conditions is met:
If the rhombus has a right angle (90 degrees), you can conclude it's a square!
If the diagonals of the rhombus are equal you can conclude it's a square!
How do you prove that a rectangle is a square?
If you have a rectangle in front of you, you can determine that it is a square if at least one of the following conditions is met:
If the rectangle has a pair of equal adjacent sides you can conclude it's a square!
If the diagonals of the rectangle are perpendicular you can conclude it's a square!
If the diagonals of the rectangle are bisectors you can conclude it's a square!
Useful information: Is every square a rectangle? Yes!
Is every rectangle a square? Definitely not.
Is every square a rhombus? Yes!
Is every rhombus a square? No, no, and no.
Do you know what the answer is?
Question 1
Look at the square below:
Is a square a parallelogram?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
Yes
Question 2
Look at the square below:
Is a rhombus a square?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
No
Question 3
Look at the square below:
Is the square a rhombus?
Incorrect
Correct Answer:
Yes
From Parallelogram to Square
How can you prove that a certain parallelogram is a square? To start, we must prove that the parallelogram is a rhombus or a rectangle. Then, based on the conditions specified above, we must prove that the rhombus or rectangle is a square.
Area of the Square
Calculating the area of a square is very simple and is similar to calculating the area of a rectangle. To calculate the area of a square we will multiply side by side. In a square, all sides are equal and, therefore, the area of the square will be equal to side squared or side by side (which in fact is one side multiplied by itself). Let's see it illustrated and in the formula:
Square
We will indicate the area of the square with the letter A The formula will be: A=a×a or A=a2
Square: Examples and Exercises with Solutions
Exercise #1
Look at the square below:
What is the area of the square equivalent to?
Video Solution
Step-by-Step Solution
The area of a square is equal to the square of its side length.
In other words:
S=a2
Since in the diagram we are given one side of the square, and in a square all sides are equal to each other, we will solve for the area of the square as follows:
S=52=25
Answer
25
Exercise #2
Look at the square below:
What is its area?
Video Solution
Step-by-Step Solution
The area of the square is equal to the side of the square raised to the second power.
That is:
A=L2
Since the drawing gives us one side of the square, and in a square all sides are equal, we will solve the area of the square as follows:
A=132=169
Answer
169
Exercise #3
Look at the square below:
What is the area of the square?
Video Solution
Step-by-Step Solution
The area of the square is equal to the side of the square raised to the second power.
That is:
A=L2
Since the drawing gives us one side of the square, and in a square all sides are equal, we will solve the area of the square as follows:
A=302=900
Answer
900
Exercise #4
Look at the square below:
What is the area of the square?
Video Solution
Step-by-Step Solution
The area of the square is equal to the side of the square raised to the second power.
That is:
A=L2
Since the drawing gives us one side of the square, and in a square all sides are equal, we will solve the area of the square as follows:
A=122=144
Answer
144
Exercise #5
Given the square:
What is the area of the square?
Video Solution
Step-by-Step Solution
The area of the square is equal to the side of the square raised to the second power.
That is:
A=L2
Since the drawing gives us one side of the square, and in a square all sides are equal, we will solve the area of the square as follows: