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Identifying quadrilaterals

Classify quadrilaterals, including rectangles, rhombuses, and squares. 

Quadrilaterals

A quadrilateral is a polygon with four sides.

Study some examples

Here are some examples of quadrilaterals:
A shape with 4 sides. The direction of each side is as follows, beginning at the top and continuing in a clockwise pattern: straight line to the right, straight line down, straight line to the left, straight line up and right.
A shape with 4 sides. The direction of each side is as follows, beginning at the top and continuing in a clockwise pattern: straight line to the right, straight line down, straight line to the left, straight line up.
A shape with 4 sides. The direction of each side is as follows, beginning at the top and continuing in a clockwise pattern: straight line down and right, straight line down and left, straight line up and left, straight line up and right.

Try it yourself

Which of the following shapes are quadrilaterals?
Choose all answers that apply:

Special types of quadrilaterals

Some quadrilaterals go by special names like rectangle, rhombus, and square. Let's learn about them!

Rectangles

What makes a shape a rectangle?
  • There are four right angles.
  • There are four sides because it's a quadrilateral.

Study some examples

Here are some examples of rectangles:
A smaller horizontal rectangle.
A vertical rectangle.
A larger horizontal rectangle.

Try it yourself

Which of the following shapes are rectangles?
Choose all answers that apply:

Challenge problem

Let's consider one more shape:
A shape with 4 equal sides and 4 right angles.
Is this shape a quadrilateral?
Choose 1 answer:

Does the shape have four right angles?
Choose 1 answer:

So, is the shape a rectangle?
Choose 1 answer:

Rhombuses

What makes a shape a rhombus?
  • All sides are the same length.
  • There are four sides because it is a quadrilateral.

Study some examples

Here are some examples of rhombuses:
A shape with 4 equal sides and no right angles. The direction of each side is as follows, beginning at the top and continuing in a clockwise pattern: straight line to the right, straight line down and right, straight line to the left, straight line up and left.
A shape with 4 equal sides and no right angles. The direction of each side is as follows, beginning at the top and continuing in a clockwise pattern: straight line down and right, straight line down and left, straight line up and left, straight line up and right.
A shape with 4 equal sides and 4 right angles. The direction of each side is as follows, beginning at the top and continuing in a clockwise pattern: straight line to the right, straight line down, straight line to the left, straight line up.

Try it yourself

Which of the following shapes are rhombuses?
Choose all answers that apply:

Squares

What makes a shape a square?
  • All sides are of equal length.
  • There are four right angles.
  • There are four sides because it's a quadrilateral.

Study some examples

Here are some examples of squares:
A larger shape with 4 equal sides and 4 right angles. The direction of each side is as follows, beginning at the top and continuing in a clockwise pattern: straight line to the right, straight line down, straight line to the left, straight line up.
A shape with 4 equal sides and 4 right angles. The direction of each side is as follows, beginning at the top and continuing in a clockwise pattern: straight line down and right, straight line down and left, straight line up and left, straight line up and right.
A smaller shape with 4 equal sides and 4 right angles. The direction of each side is as follows, beginning at the top and continuing in a clockwise pattern: straight line to the right, straight line down, straight line to the left, straight line up.

Try it yourself

Which of the following shapes are squares?
Choose all answers that apply:

Challenge question 1

Drag the points to create a shape that is both a rectangle and a rhombus.

Challenge question 2

Which of the following describe this shape?
A shape with 4 equal sides and 4 right angles. The direction of each side is as follows, beginning at the top and continuing in a clockwise pattern: straight line down and right, straight line down and left, straight line up and left, straight line up and right.
Choose all answers that apply:

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