Parallelogram

A parallelogram.

In geometry, a parallelogram is a quadrilateral with two sets of parallel sides. The opposite sides of a parallelogram are of equal length, and the opposite angles of a parallelogram are congruent. The three-dimensional counterpart of a parallelogram is a parallelepiped.

Properties

• The two parallel sides are of equal length.
• The area, $A$, of a parallelogram is $A=BH$ where $B$ is the base of the parallelogram and $H$ is its height.
• The area of a parallelogram is twice the area of a triangle created by one of its diagonals.
• The area is also equal to the magnitude of the vector cross product of two adjacent sides.
• The diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other.
• It is possible to create a tessellation with any parallelogram.
• The parallelogram is itself a special case of a trapezoid.

Vector spaces

In a vector space, addition of vectors is usually defined using the parallelogram law. The parallelogram law distinguishes Hilbert spaces from other Banach spaces.

Proof that diagonals bisect each other

To prove that the diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other, first note a few pairs of equivalent angles:

$\angle ABE\cong \angle CDE$

$\angle BAE\cong \angle DCE$

Since they are angles that a transversal makes with parallel lines $AB$ and $DC$.

Also, $\angle AEB\cong \angle CED$ since they are a pair of vertical angles.

Therefore, $\triangle ABE\sim \triangle CDE$ since they have the same angles.

From this similarity, we have the ratios

${AB \over CD}={AE \over CE}={BE \over DE}$

Since $AB=DC$, we have

${AB \over CD}=1$.

Therefore,

$AE=CE$

$BE=DE$

$E$ bisects the diagonals $AC$ and $BD$.

Derivation of the area formula

Area of the parallelogram is in blue

The area formula,

$A_{\text{parallelogram}}=B\times H,\,$

can be derived as follows:

The area of the parallelogram to the right (the blue area) is the total area of the rectangle less the area of the two orange triangles. The area of the rectangle is

$A_{\text{rect}}=(B+A)\times H\,$

and the area of a single orange triangle is

$A_{\text{tri}}={\frac {1}{2}}A\times H\,$

Therefore, the area of the parallelogram is

$A_{\text{parallelogram}}=A_{\text{rect}}-2\times A_{\text{tri}}=\left((B+A)\times H\right)-\left(A\times H\right)=B\times H\,$

See also

• Fundamental parallelogram
• Parallelogram of force
• Rhombus
• Synthetic geometry
• Gnomon (figure)

External links

• Parallelogram and Rhombus - Animated course (Construction, Circumference, Area)
• Eric W. Weisstein. Parallelogram. MathWorld
• Interactive Parallelogram —sides, angles and slope
• Area of Parallelogram at cut-the-knot
• National Parallogram Dealers WebsiteNational Parallelogram Dealers Association
• Equilateral Triangles On Sides of a Parallelogram at cut-the-knot
• Varignon and Wittenbauer Parallelograms by Antonio Gutierrez from "Geometry Step by Step from the Land of the Incas"
• Van Aubel's theorem Quadrilateral with four squares by Antonio Gutierrez from "Geometry Step by Step from the Land of the Incas"
• Parallelogram Quiz
• Definition and properties of a parallelogram with animated applet
• Interactive applet showing parallelogram area calculation interactive applet

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