A trapezoid, known as a trapezium in some parts of the world, is a four-sided polygon (quadrilateral) with at least one pair of parallel sides. These parallel sides are referred to as the bases of the trapezoid, and the non-parallel sides are called the legs. Trapezoids are unique among quadrilaterals for this defining feature of having only one pair of parallel sides.
Key Characteristics of a Trapezoid
- At least one pair of parallel sides: The two sides that are parallel are known as the bases.
- The non-parallel sides: These are the legs of the trapezoid, which can be of equal or unequal length.
- Internal angles: The sum of the interior angles in a trapezoid, like any quadrilateral, is 360 degrees.
Types of Trapezoids
Trapezoids can be classified into two main types:
- Isosceles Trapezoid: In an isosceles trapezoid, the non-parallel sides (legs) are of equal length, and the base angles are equal.
- Scalene Trapezoid: A scalene trapezoid has no sides of equal length and no equal angles.
Examples of Trapezoids
Example 1: A quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides measuring 5 cm and 7 cm, and the other sides measuring 4 cm and 6 cm, is a trapezoid.
Example 2: An isosceles trapezoid with bases of 10 cm and 6 cm, and legs of 5 cm each.
Applications of Trapezoids
Trapezoids are commonly found in architecture, engineering designs, and in various mathematical concepts, especially in geometry and area calculation.
The Most Popular Topics:
- Corresponding angles
- Adjacent angles
- Congruent angles
- Complementary angles
- How to multiply fractions – multiplying fractions
- How to divide fractions – dividing fractions
- How to add fractions – adding fractions
- How to subtract fractions – subtracting fractions
- How to simplify fractions – simplifying fractions
- Midpoint, midpoint formula
- Quadratic formula
- Quadratic equation
- Median – what is the median in math?
- How to find median?
- Distributive property
- Associative property
- Commutative property
- Quotient – what is a quotient?
- Quotient rule
- System of equations
- Solving system of equations
- Linear equations
- Solving equations
- Slope
- Slope formula
- Slope calculator
- Point slope formula
- Slope intercept form
- How to find slope?
- Convert fraction to decimal
- Factors of a number
- Point slope form
- Slope equation
- Domain and range
- Domain – what is domain in math?
- How to find the domain of a function?
- How to find domain and range?
- Polynomial
- Polynomial long division
- Polynomial division – dividing polynomials
- Degree of polynomial
- Factoring polynomials – how to factor polynomials?
- Perpendicular lines
- Parabola equation
- Isosceles triangle
- Perimeter of triangle
- Scalene triangle
- Obtuse triangle
- Acute triangle
- Right triangle
- Trapezoid area formula
- What is a trapezoid?
- Isosceles trapezoid
- Rectangle
- Area of a rectangle
- Perimeter of a rectangle – how to find perimeter of a rectangle?
- Pythagorean theorem
- Vertex – how to find vertex?
- Vertex form
- Vertex formula
- How to find square root of a number?
Return to MathQuadrum.com from What is a trapezoid? home for more topics on mathematics