Grade 8 → Geometry → Constructions ↓
Constructing Quadrilaterals
In geometry, a quadrilateral is a polygon with four sides and four vertices. Quadrilaterals can take many forms, such as squares, rectangles, trapezoids, and parallelograms. In Class 8 Maths, drawing quadrilaterals is an essential skill. The aim of this lesson is to guide you in drawing different types of quadrilaterals using basic tools like ruler and compass.
Basic properties of quadrilaterals
Before we move on to the construction, it is important to understand the basic properties of a quadrilateral. Here are the essential properties:
- A quadrilateral has four sides.
- The sum of the interior angles of a quadrilateral is always 360 degrees.
- They have two diagonals.
Tools for construction
To draw a quadrilateral you will need some basic tools commonly used in geometry:
- Ruler: For measuring and drawing straight lines.
- Compass: For drawing arcs and circles.
- Protractor: For measuring angles.
- Pencil: For marking and drawing lines.
Let's start by constructing some common types of quadrilaterals.
Building a square
A square is a type of quadrilateral with four equal sides and four right angles. Follow these steps to draw a square:
- Draw a line segment
AB
of length 5 cm using a ruler. - Set the width of the compass to 5 cm and draw an arc above the line
AB
, with the compass pointA
in it. - With the same compass width, draw a second arc placing the compass at point
B
which will intersect the first arc atC
. - Draw a line segment
AC
andBC
. - Use the compass again to find point
D
by intersecting the arcs fromA
andC
. - Draw lines
AD
andCD
.
The figure constructed is a square ABCD
.
Constructing a rectangle
A rectangle is a quadrilateral with equal opposite sides and four right angles. Here's how you can draw a rectangle:
- Draw a line segment
AB
of length 6 cm. - At point
A
, construct an angle of 90 degrees using a protractor and mark pointC
at a distance of 4 cm fromA
. - At point
B
, again construct an angle of 90 degree using protractor and mark pointD
at a distance of 4 cm fromB
. - Draw line segments
CD
andAD
to complete the rectangleABCD
.
Construction of parallelogram
A parallelogram is a quadrilateral in which the opposite sides are parallel and equal in length. Here is how to construct it:
- Draw a line segment
AB
of length 6 cm. - Choose a point
D
such thatAD = 4 cm
and draw an angle of your choice. - Draw a line segment
AD
. - Using a compass, draw an arc from
B
with a radius equal toAD
. - From
D
draw another arc of radius equal toAB
which will intersect the previous arc atC
. - Connect point
C
toB
andD
.
Construction of trapezium
A trapezoid is a quadrilateral with at least one pair of parallel sides. Below is a guide to drawing a trapezoid:
- Draw a parallel line segment
AB
and place it at 5 cm. - At each end point (
A
andB
), use a compass to draw an arc above the line. - Intersect these arcs at points
C
andD
to complete the trapezoid. - Draw the end sides
CD
andDA
to complete the trapeziumABCD
.
Understanding diagonals in a quadrilateral
Diagonals are important elements of a quadrilateral. A diagonal is a line segment joining two non-adjacent vertices. For squares and rectangles, the diagonals are equal in length. In a parallelogram, the diagonals bisect each other. In a trapezoid, there is no specific diagonal property, but they play an important role in the internal structure of the trapezoid. Understanding these properties helps in constructing and solving quadrilateral problems.
Angles in a quadrilateral
The sum of the interior angles of any quadrilateral is 360 degrees
. If three angles are known, you can calculate the missing angle. Here is a simple formula:
angle_d = 360° - (angle_a + angle_b + angle_c)
Consider a quadrilateral ABCD
whose angles are A
, B
, C
, D
. If you know three of these angles, you can find the fourth angle using this formula.
Construction of special quadrilaterals
In addition to the basic shapes, some quadrilaterals have special properties such as rhombuses and kites. Here is a guide to drawing them:
Construction of rhombus
A rhombus, like a square, has four sides equal, but not necessarily right angles. Draw it like this:
- Draw a line segment
AB
equal to the length of the desired side of the rhombus. - Using a compass, draw arcs of equal length from both
A
andB
. - Intersect these at
C
andD
. - Draw lines
AC
,BC
,AD
, andBD
.
Making a kite
In a kite, two pairs of adjacent sides are equal. Here is how to make a kite:
- Draw a diagonal
AC
of 7 cm. - Draw two arcs of length 5 cm and 3 cm from
A
andC
respectively. Intersect them atB
. - From
A
andC
draw another set of arcs of length 3 cm and 5 cm respectively, and intersect atD
. - Draw lines
AB
,BC
,CD
andDA
.
Conclusion
Drawing quadrilaterals is an important skill in geometry that allows you to explore various properties and relationships within shapes. Using simple tools like a ruler, compass, and protractor, you can draw a variety of quadrilaterals, from simple rectangles and squares to more complex rhombuses and kites. Understanding the basic properties of these shapes, such as congruence of sides, parallelism, and sum of angles, is essential to effectively draw and understand these geometric shapes.