Objectives: Students will explore and learn the properties of rectangles, squares, parallelograms, and trapezoids. Students will be able to classify special quadrilaterals.
Materials: GSP file "Quadrilaterals" and student worksheet
NAME:______________________
Instructions: Open the GSP file "Quadrilaterals" to use for the following exploration.
RECTANGLES
Start with Rectangle ABCD. Measure its angles and its sides.
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| A | AB | ||
| B | BC | ||
| C | CD | ||
| D | AD |
Do the same thing for Rectangle EFGH.
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| E | EF | ||
| F | FG | ||
| G | GH | ||
| H | EH |
What pattern do you see about the relationships between sides?
What do you notice about the angles of the two rectangles?
Write down the properties of rectangles that you have found. How do these patterns apply to Rectangle IJKL?
Use the measurements of the sides of angles of Rectangle IJKL to verify your conjectures about its properties.
2. SQUARES
Measure the sides and angles of Square MNOP.
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| M | MN | ||
| N | NO | ||
| O | OP | ||
| P | MP |
Do the same for Square QRST.
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| Q | QR | ||
| R | RS | ||
| S | ST | ||
| T | QT |
What conjectures can you make about the relationship between the sides of a square? What about the angles of a square?
Test your conjectures by measuring sides and angles of Square UVWX. Are your conjectures correct?
What is the relationship between squares and rectangles? Are squares rectangles? Are rectangles squares? Explain your answers.
3. PARALLELOGRAMS
Measure the sides and angles of Parallelogram UVWX.
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| U | UV | ||
| V | VW | ||
| W | WX | ||
| X | UX |
Do the same for Parallelogram ABCD.
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| A | AB | ||
| B | BC | ||
| C | CD | ||
| D | AD |
What conclusions can you make about the relationships between the sides of a parallelogram?
What do you notice about the angles of a parallelogram?
Why are these shapes called parallelograms?
What can you say about Parallelogram EFGH's sides?
What do you think about Parallelogram EFGH's angles?
Check your conjectures about Parallelogram EFGH's properties by measuring its sides and angles. Were you correct?
Is a square also a parallelogram? Why?
Is a parallelogram also a square? Why?
Is a rectangle a parallelogram? Why?
Is a parallelogram a rectangle? Why?
4. TRAPEZOIDS
Measure the sides and angles for each of the trapezoids.
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| K | KL | ||
| L | LM | ||
| M | MN | ||
| N | KN |
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| R | RS | ||
| S | ST | ||
| T | TU | ||
| U | RU |
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| W | WX | ||
| X | XY | ||
| Y | YZ | ||
| Z | WZ |
Did you find any reoccurring patterns? If so, what are they?
What do you notice about the sides that are colored blue?
What do you think the definition of trapezoid is?