Parallelogram

What is a parallelogram?

A parallelogram is a quadrilateral or a shape with 4 sides with the following properties. These properties of a parallelogram can also be viewed as parallelogram law.

Properties of a parallelogram

• opposite pairs of sides equal in length and parallel
• opposite angles equal

Thus, the following properties of a parallelogram also emerge:

• The diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other

Example of a parallelogram

Below is an example of a parallelogram with sides a and b. The perimeter of a parallelogram is just the sum of the lengths of the sides, in this case 2xa + 2xb.

How are a parallelogram and a trapezoid alike?

Both the parallelogram and the trapezoid (trapezium) have at least one parallel sides. While the parallelogram has both the opposite sides parallel, the trapezoid or trapezium only has one.