Constructing Special Parallelograms

There are three ways to prove a parallelogram is a Rhombus. The following are methods using a
compass and straightedge to construct a parallelogram using one of these methods, based on the original figure
to start from.
1. One pair consecutive sides is congruent
2. Diagonals are perpendicular to each other
3. One diagonal bisects its verte angles
!onstruction steps for "1 #One pair of consecutive sides is congruent$
#1$ Draw an original side %&
#2$ 'pan from % to &, and draw an
arc about point % that passes thru
point &.
#3$ (ic) a random point on the arc
and label it *!+.

!

% &
#,$ -sing the same span #%&$ ma)e
congruent arcs about both point &
and point ! such that the new
arcs intercept. .abel the
intersection as point D
D
!

% &
#/$ !onnect the four points and label
the congruent sides with
corresponding tic mar)s
D
!

% &
#0$ 1a)e a construction statement in
a bo showing that all sides are
congruent. #therefore its a
parallelogram opps sides , and
one pair of ad2acent sides $
Rhombus
ABDC
%& &D D! !%
There are two ways to prove a parallelogram is a Rectangle. The following are methods using a
compass and straightedge to construct a parallelogram using one of these methods, based on the original figure
to start from.
1. Diagonals are congruent
2. One verte angle is right.
!onstruction steps for "1 #Diagonals are congruent$
#1$ Draw an original diagonal D'
#2$ &isect D' at point (.
a$ Draw two congruent arcs from each
endpoint to ma)e the *fisheye+
b$ !onnect the corners of the *fisheye+
and label its *eyeball+

(

D '
#3$ -sing half of the diagonal3 #span
(D or ('$ ma)e an image circle
e4ual to 5 D'.
Note: make the center point (dot) first.
#,$ Then draw two diameters on the
circle, and label the endpoints
Note: the diameters must pass thru the
center point.

D
& %

!
#/$ !onnect the four endpoints of the
diameters #which now ma)es
them also diagonals$

D
& %

!
#0$ 1a)e a construction statement in
a bo showing that the diagonals
bisect each other. #therefore its a
parallelogram$ and the diagonals
are congruent #therefore its a
6ectangle$
Rectangle
ACBD
&% bisects !D
!D bisects &%
parallelogram
and
&% !D
rectangle
One way to prove a parallelogram is a Square is to following are methods used to ma)e a rhombus with
an added feature that ma)es it also a rectangle.
!onstruction steps for a s4uare rhombus #one angle is right$
#1$ Draw an original side %&
#2$ 7tend the length past point & to
ma)e it at least twice as long.


% &
#3$ (ull a perpendicular from & using
the span from %& as your
semicircle
a$ Draw semicircle about &
b$ 1a)e interesting arcs from points %
and 8
c$ Draw line from this intersection thru
&
d$ .abel the angle right with the *bo+





% & 8
#,$ .abel the point on the semicircle
perpendicular to & as point !
#/$ -sing the same span #%&$ ma)e
congruent arcs about both points
% and ! such that the new arcs
intercept and label it *D+.
#0$ !onnect the four points and label
the congruent sides with
corresponding tic mar)s

D !



% & 8
#9$ 1a)e a construction statement in
a bo showing that all sides are
congruent. #therefore its a
rhombus$ and one angle is :;
degrees so its a rectangle
Square
ABDC
%& &D D! !%
rhombus
and
m% < :;
rectangle
%nother way to prove a parallelogram is a Square is to following are methods used to ma)e a rectangle
with an added feature that ma)es it also a rhombus.
!onstruction steps for a s4uare rectangle #diagonals are perpendicular$
#1$ Draw an original diagonal 1=
#2$ &isect 1= at point (.
c$ Draw two congruent arcs from each
endpoint to ma)e the *fisheye+
d$ !onnect the corners of the *fisheye+
and label its *eyeball+

(

1 =
#3$ -sing half of the diagonal3 #span
(D or ('$ ma)e an image circle
e4ual to 5 D'.
Note: make the center point (dot) first.
#,$ Then draw one diameter on the
circle, and label the endpoints >
and ?

D


!
#/$ (ull a perpendicular from the
center point
a$ The semicircle is already drawn
b$ 1a)e interesting arcs from points !
and D
c$ Draw line from this intersection thru
the center point
.abel the angle right with the *bo+

D


!
#0$ -se this line as your second
diameter and label its endpoints
6 and '
#9$ !onnect the four endpoints of the
diameters #which now ma)es
them also diagonals$

6 D

'
!
#@$ 1a)e a construction statement in
a bo showing that the diagonals
bisect each other. #therefore its a
parallelogram$ and the diagonals
are congruent #therefore its a
rectangle$ and the diagonals are
perpendicular #therefore its a
rhombus$
Square
CRDS
&% bisects !D
!D bisects &%
and
&% !D rectangle
and
&% !D rhombus