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Overview

Properties of Squares and Rectangles

April 10, 2024
1 min read

Rectangles

A rectangle is a 4-sided polygon (quadrilateral) with specific rules:

  1. Opposite sides are equal in length (AB=CDAB = CD and BC=DABC = DA).
  2. All angles are equal to 9090^\circ (Right angles).
ABCD

Squares

A square is a special type of rectangle.

  1. All 4 sides are equal (AB=BC=CD=DAAB = BC = CD = DA).
  2. All angles are 9090^\circ.

Naming Convention

When naming a shape like a square or rectangle, you must list the corners in order as you travel around the boundary (either clockwise or counter-clockwise).

  • Valid: PQRSPQRS, QRSPQRSP, RSPQRSPQ, SPQRSPQR.
  • Invalid: PRSQPRSQ (crossing diagonally).

Rotated Figures

If you rotate a square, it remains a square. The properties (equal sides, right angles) do not change just because the orientation changes.

ABCD
Note

Tip: A rotated square might look like a “diamond,” but mathematically, if the corners are 9090^\circ and sides are equal, it is still a square.