Properties of Rectangles
Properties of Rectangles is a Grade 7 math topic in Big Ideas Math Advanced 2, Chapter 12: Constructions and Scale Drawings. Students learn that rectangles have four right angles, parallel and equal opposite sides, and equal diagonals that bisect each other. A rectangle is a special type of parallelogram where all angles measure exactly 90 degrees.
Key Concepts
Rectangles have four sides and four right ($90^\circ$) angles. Opposite sides are parallel and equal in length. All four angles are congruent (each measuring $90^\circ$). The diagonals are equal in length and bisect each other. A rectangle is a special type of parallelogram where all angles are right angles.
Common Questions
What are the properties of a rectangle?
A rectangle has four sides, four right angles (90 degrees each), opposite sides that are parallel and equal in length, and diagonals that are equal in length and bisect each other.
How is a rectangle different from a parallelogram?
A rectangle is a special parallelogram where all four interior angles are right angles (90 degrees). All rectangles are parallelograms, but not all parallelograms are rectangles.
Do the diagonals of a rectangle bisect each other?
Yes. The diagonals of a rectangle are equal in length and they bisect each other, meaning they cross at their midpoints, dividing each diagonal into two equal segments.
If one side of a rectangle is 12 cm, what is the opposite side?
The opposite side is also 12 cm, because opposite sides of a rectangle are equal in length.