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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Parallelogram and Trapezoid?

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The main difference between a parallelogram and a trapezoid is the number of parallel sides they have:

  • Parallelogram: A parallelogram is a quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel sides. All parallelograms are also trapezoids, as they have at least one pair of parallel sides.
  • Trapezoid: A trapezoid is a quadrilateral with exactly one pair of opposite parallel sides. Not all trapezoids are parallelograms, as they can have more than one pair of parallel sides.

In summary:

  • A parallelogram always has two pairs of parallel sides.
  • A trapezoid has at least one pair of parallel sides, but not necessarily two pairs.
On this page
  • What is the Difference Between Parallelogram and Trapezoid?
  • Comparative Table: Parallelogram vs Trapezoid

    • Comparative Table: Parallelogram vs Trapezoid

    Here is a table highlighting the differences between a parallelogram and a trapezoid:

    Feature Parallelogram Trapezoid
    Number of parallel sides 2 pairs of parallel sides 1 pair of parallel sides
    Quadrilateral type A parallelogram is a specific type of quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel sides A trapezoid is a type of quadrilateral with at least one pair of parallel sides, and it can be further classified into different types based on its side lengths and angle measures
    Other attributes - Opposite sides are parallel
    - Opposite angles are equal    		 - Non-parallel sides can be of any length
    - Can have different types of trapezoids based on side lengths and angle measures, such as isosceles trapezoids, right-angled trapezoids, and scalene trapezoids

    Both parallelograms and trapezoids are quadrilateral shapes, meaning they both have four sides. Additionally, both shapes have opposite sides and angles that are equal. However, the main difference between the two is the number of parallel sides: a parallelogram has two pairs of parallel sides, while a trapezoid has only one pair of parallel sides.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.