6) How are a parallelogram and a trapezoid different? A A trapezoid has ony 1 pair of parallel sides, but a paralelogram has 2. C.B.A parallelogram has 4 right angles, but a trapezoid doesn’t need to have 4 right angles CA parallelogram has only 1 pair of parallel sides, but a trapezoid has 2 D A trapezoid has 4 night angles, but a parallelogram doesn’t need to have 4 night angles
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: A
A trapezoid has only 1 pair of parallel sides, but a parallelogram has 2.
Explanation:
Understanding the difference between a parallelogram and a trapezoid is essential in geometry, especially when classifying quadrilaterals. Both are four-sided figures, but they have distinct properties based on the number of parallel sides.
A parallelogram is a quadrilateral in which both pairs of opposite sides are parallel. That means the top and bottom sides are parallel to each other, and so are the left and right sides. Parallelograms have many properties: opposite angles are equal, opposite sides are equal in length, and the diagonals bisect each other. A rectangle, rhombus, and square are all special types of parallelograms with additional features, like right angles or equal-length sides.
On the other hand, a trapezoid (also called a trapezium in some countries) is defined as a quadrilateral with exactly one pair of parallel sides. These parallel sides are called bases, and the non-parallel sides are called legs. Because only one pair of sides is parallel, trapezoids do not have the same symmetry or balance in side lengths and angles as parallelograms.
Let us examine the other options to clarify why they are incorrect:
- Option B says a parallelogram has 4 right angles, but this is only true for a rectangle or square, not all parallelograms.
- Option C wrongly says a parallelogram has only 1 pair of parallel sides. This is the defining feature of a trapezoid, not a parallelogram.
- Option D states that a trapezoid has 4 right angles. That can happen in a special trapezoid called a rectangle trapezoid, but it is not a general rule.
In conclusion, the key difference lies in the number of parallel sides. A parallelogram has two pairs, while a trapezoid has only one pair.
