6.

6 Special
Quadrilaterals
Geometry
Mrs. Spitz
Spring 2005

Objectives:
Identify special quadrilaterals based
on limited information.
Prove that a quadrilateral is a special
type of quadrilateral, such as a
rhombus or trapezoid.

Assignment

pp. 367-369 #2-35

Summarizing Properties of
Quadrilaterals

Quadrilateral

In this chapter, you have

studied the seven special
Trapezoid
Kite
Parallelogram
types of quadrilaterals
shown at the right. Notice
Isosceles
Rhombus
Rectangle
that each shape has all the
trapezoid
Square
properties of the shapes
linked above it. For
instance, squares have the
properties of rhombuses,
rectangles, parallelograms,
and quadrilaterals.

Ex. 1: Identifying
Quadrilaterals

Parallelogram

Quadrilateral ABCD has at least one

pair of opposite sides congruent.
What kinds of quadrilaterals meet this
condition? Rhombus
Opposites
sides are .

Opposite sides
are congruent.

All sides are

congruent.
All sides are
congruent.

Legs are
congruent.

Ex. 2: Connecting midpoints

of sides

When you join the

midpoints of the
sides of any
quadrilateral, what
special
quadrilateral is
formed? Why?

A
F

D
G

H
C

Ex. 2: Connecting midpoints

of sides

A
Solution: Let E, F, G, and H
be the midpoints of the sides
of any quadrilateral, ABCD E
as shown.
D
If you draw AC, the
Midsegment Theorem for
H
triangles says that FGAC
C
and EGAC, so FGEH.
Similar reasoning shows that
EFHG.
So by definition, EFGH is a
parallelogram.

F
B
G

Proof with Special

Quadrilaterals

When you want to prove that a

quadrilateral has a specific shape, you
can use either the definition of the
shape as in example 2 or you can use
a theorem.

Proving Quadrilaterals are

Rhombuses
You have learned 3 ways to prove that a quadrilateral is a
rhombus.

You can use the definition and show that the

quadrilateral is a parallelogram that has four
congruent sides. It is easier, however, to use the
Rhombus Corollary and simply show that all four
sides of the quadrilateral are congruent.

Show that the quadrilateral is a parallelogram and

that the diagonals are perpendicular (Thm. 6.11)

Show that the quadrilateral is a parallelogram and

that each diagonal bisects a pair of opposite angles.
(Thm 6.12)

Ex. 3: Proving a
quadrilateral is a rhombus
8

K(2, 5)N(6, 3) = 4.47 cm

Show KLMN is a rhombus

M(2, 1)N(6, 3) = 4.47 cm
Solution: You can use any of the L(-2, 3)M(2, 1) = 4.47 cm
6
L(-2, 3)K(2, 5) = 4.47
cm
three ways described in the
concept summary above. For
instance, you could show that
opposite sides have the same
4
slope and that the diagonals are
L(-2, 3)
perpendicular. Another way
shown in the next slide is to prove
that all four sides have the same
2
length.
AHA DISTANCE FORMULA If
you want, look on pg. 365 for the
whole explanation of the distance
formula
So, because LM=NK=MN=KL,
KLMN is a rhombus.
-2

K(2, 5)

N(6, 3)

M(2, 1)
5

Ex. 4: Identifying a
quadrilateral
A

What type of quadrilateral is

ABCD? Explain your
reasoning.

60

120
120

60
B

Ex. 4: Identifying a
quadrilateral
A

What type of quadrilateral is

ABCD? Explain your reasoning.

60

120
120

Solution: A and D are

supplementary, but A and B
are not. So, ABDC, but AD is
not parallel to BC. By definition,
ABCD is a trapezoid. Because base
angles are congruent, ABCD is an
isosceles trapezoid

60
B

Ex. 5: Identifying a Quadrilateral

The diagonals of quadrilateral ABCD

intersect at point N to produce four
congruent segments: AN BN CN
DN. What type of quadrilateral is
ABCD? Prove that your answer is
correct.
First Step: Draw a diagram. Draw the
diagonals as described. Then connect
the endpoints to draw quadrilateral
ABCD.

Ex. 5: Identifying a Quadrilateral

B

First Step: Draw a diagram.

Draw the diagonals as
described. Then connect
the endpoints to draw
quadrilateral ABCD.
2nd Step: Make a
conjecture:

Quadrilateral ABCD looks

like a rectangle.

3rd step: Prove your

conjecture

Given: AN BN CN DN
Prove ABCD is a rectangle.

N
A
D

Given: AN BN CN DN
Prove: ABCD is a rectangle.

Because you are given information about diagonals, show

that ABCD is a parallelogram with congruent diagonals.
First prove that ABCD is a parallelogram.
BN DN and AN CN, BD and AC bisect each
other. Because the diagonals of ABCD bisect each
other, ABCD is a parallelogram.

Because

Then prove that the diagonals of ABCD are congruent.

From

the given you can write BN = AN and DN = CN so,

by the addition property of Equality, BN + DN = AN +
CN. By the Segment Addition Postulate, BD = BN + DN
and AC = AN + CN so, by substitution, BD = AC.
So, BD AC.

ABCD is a parallelogram with congruent diagonals, so

ABCD is a rectangle.