GCSE Maths Practice: triangles-and-quadrilaterals
This question explores trapeziums and their properties.
Check how many sides are parallel; exactly one = trapezium.
A trapezium is a quadrilateral with exactly one pair of parallel sides. Other quadrilaterals, such as parallelograms, rectangles, and squares, have two pairs of parallel sides. Understanding the number of parallel sides is key to distinguishing trapeziums from other shapes. Trapeziums are used in geometry diagrams, tiling patterns, and architectural designs. Students should practice identifying trapeziums by checking parallel sides and visualizing different quadrilaterals. Recognizing trapeziums also helps in calculating angles, areas, and working with composite shapes. This knowledge is important for GCSE questions on quadrilaterals, properties of polygons, and geometric reasoning.