A rectangle is a parallelogram that has angles each measuring 90º (right angles). Since a rectangle is a type of parallelogram, it has all of the the properties of a parallelogram.
Demonstration of a Rectangle
If a parallelogram has an angle of 90º or is a parallelogram with diagonals of the same length, then it is therefore a rectangle.
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The rectangle is an interesting figure that has certain special characteristics. Once we have become familiar with its specific properties, we will be able to quickly determine whether or not any figure we are presented with is in fact a rectangle.
What is a Rectangle?
A rectangle is a quadrilateral with angles measuring 90 degrees each.
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The pairs of sides are opposite, equal, andparallel.
For example: AB=DC AB∥DC
and also:
AD=BC AD∥BC
All angles of a rectangle measure 90 degrees each.
For example: ∢A=∢B=∢C=∢D=90
Let's look at a basic exercise that includes a rectangle:
Rectangle
Shown above is the rectangle ABDC, where AB=6 and BD=3.
We must find the length of the sides AC and CD.
According to the properties we have learned about rectangles, their opposite sides have the same length.
Therefore, the following is true:
AB=CD=6
AC=BD=3
Diagonals in the Rectangle
Now let's move on to the properties of the diagonals of the rectangle Let's redraw our rectangle without any labels so that we don't get confused:
Diagonals of the Rectangle
The diagonals of the rectangle are equal.
That is, AC=BD.
Useful information: You can verify this fact easily by means of the congruence of triangles ⊿ADC and ⊿BCD according to LAL.
Argumento
Explicación
Lado AD=BC
Según las propiedades del rectángulo cada par de lados opuestos son iguales.
Ángulo ∢ADC=∢BCD
Según las propiedades del rectángulo todos sus ángulos son iguales.
Lado DC=DC
Lados opuestos, tienen la misma longitud.
De esto se desprende que: ⊿BCD=⊿ADC
Según LAL.
Entonces: AC=BD
Según congruencia de ángulos.
The diagonals of the rectangle intersect. Not only do they intersect, but they do so at the midpoint of each other. Since the diagonals are equal, so are their halves.
In other words: AE=BE=CE=DE
Important! The diagonals of a rectangle are not perpendicular! They do not form a right angle with each other.
Also: The diagonals do not cross the angles of the rectangle.
Note: Since a rectangle is a type of parallelogram, it has all the properties of a parallelogram.
How can we prove that a certain figure is a rectangle? The technical definition of a rectangle is: A parallelogram that contains a right angle (90º).
Also, A parallelogram with diagonals of the same length is a rectangle. A rectangle is a type of parallelogram with special properties. If we are presented with a parallelogram with an angle of 90º or one with diagonals of the same length, we can safely determine that it is a rectangle!
How can we prove that aquadrilateral is, in fact, a rectangle? There are two ways:
The First Method: Checking the Angles
Check if three of the angles measure 90º. If they do, then the quadrilateral is a rectangle. (We do not need to measure the fourth angle since, as all angles must add up to 360º, it will also measure 90º).
Do you think you will be able to solve it?
Question 1
Are the opposite sides of a rectangle equal to one another?
The Second Method: Demonstration of parallelogram, then, of rectangle.
See if you can prove that the given quadrilateral is a parallelogram. Don't know exactly how to prove it? Then have a look at our guide "From quadrilateral to parallelogram" to learn how to identify a parallelogram from 20 km away!
Once you have, you will know that a parallelogram is in fact a rectangle based on these rules:
If the parallelogram has an angle of 90º, then it is a rectangle.
If the diagonals of the parallelogram are equal, then it is a rectangle.
You can prove that a given parallelogram is a rectangle by applying any of these rules:
If the parallelogram has an angle of 90º, then it is a rectangle.
If the diagonals of the parallelogram are equal, then it is a rectangle.
Note: The technical definition of a rectangle is: a parallelogram with a right angle (90º). Therefore, if we have a parallelogram that has an angle of 90 degrees, we can determine that it is a rectangle. Furthermore, another property of a rectangle is that its diagonals are of the same length. Remembering the second rule, we can check the diagonals. If they are equal, then we have proven that it is a rectangle.
Great! Now you know everything you need to know about rectangles.
Rectangle Exercises
Exercise 1
Have a look at the two rectangles in the figure:
Question:
What is the area of the blank area?
Solution:
To answer the question, we subtract the area of the small rectangle from the area of the large rectangle.
The formula for calculating a rectangular area is base multiplied by the height.
Let's start by calculating the area of the large rectangle.
The base of the large rectangle consists of a side DC=DG+GC.
DC=4+5
DC=9 (base)
The height of the large rectangle is: DA=DE+EA.
AD=2+2=4
Therefore, DA=4.
Now to calculate the area of the large rectangle:
DC×DA=9×4=36cm2
In the second step, we calculate the area of the small rectangle. The formula is the same: base multiplied by the height.
The area of the small rectangle is equal to DG×DE.
Therefore, the area of the small rectangle is equal to 2×4=8cm2.
Now all we have left to do is to calculate the area of the large rectangle minus the area of the small rectangle, leaving us with the area of the blank section.
36−8=28
Answer:
The blank area in the figure is 28 cm².
Test your knowledge
Question 1
The points A and O are shown in the figure below.
Is it possible to draw a rectangle so that the side AO is its diagonal?
Below is an orthohedron with the dimensions shown in the figure.
Question:
Which rectangles make up the orthohedron?
Solution:
Based on the fact that an orthohedron is a symmetric box—meaning that the corner angles are always 90 degrees—it can be concluded that there are 3 pairs of equal rectangles in the orthohedron.
Answer:
First pair: a rectangle with a base of 5 cm and a height of 3 cm.
Second pair: a rectangle with a base of 6 cm and a height of 3 cm.
Third pair: a rectangle with a base of 6 cm and a height of 5 cm.
Exercise 3
Below is the rectangle ABCD with an area of 42 cm², where AD is equal to 12 cm.
Question:
What is the value of the side DC?
Solution:
To answer this question we will first look at the data we have:
The height (AD) of the rectangle is 12.
We will call the base X.
The area of the rectangle ABCD=S=42cm2.
To answer the question, we substitute the values we have in to the formula to calculate the area of the rectangle: height * base = area of the rectangle.
Next, we present the data in a formula to calculate the area of a rectangle:
Since the two squares are identical and adjacent, they form a rectangle divided in the middle.
Next, we need to remember the properties of a square. One of the properties of a square is that all of its sides are equal—that is, the side and the height of the square are equal to 5.
The calculation can be performed in several ways. However, in this case we will answer the question by calculating the area of a square and multiplying it by 2.
The formula for calculating a square area is squaring a side:
(52)
Then all that is left to do is to multiply by 2.
Therefore, the area of a square is 25×2=50.
This is because the rectangle is made up of 2 identical squares, which means it is equal to 50 cm².
Answer:
50cm2
Exercise 5
The area of the rectangle is equal to 256 cm².
One side is 4 times longer than the other.
Question:
What are the dimensions of the rectangle?
Solution:
We will substitute the given values into the formula used to calculate the area of the rectangle:
Height * base = area of the rectangle.
X×4X=256
4X2=256
Divide the equation by 4 to get X2=64.
Take the square root of both sides of the equation to solve X.
X=8
Now all you have to do is place X=8 in the figure.
Since a rectangle is a symmetric shape, we can easily work out the dimensions of all the sides of the rectangle.
Answer:
All sides of the rectangle:
Check your understanding
Question 1
Look at the rectangle below.
Side DC has a length of 1.5 cm and side AD has a length of 9.5 cm.
A golden rectangle is a rectangle where the proportion between its sides is the golden ratio (an irrational number also known as divine number). When dividing one of its sides by the other side, we obtain ϕ=1.61803….
How do you know if it is a golden rectangle?
To know if you are working with a golden rectangle, divide the larger side of the rectangle by the smaller side and see if that division gives you the result ϕ=1.61803…. If it does, it is a divine rectangle.
Test your knowledge
Question 1
Are the opposite sides of a rectangle equal to one another?