NCERT Textbook: Quadrilaterals

 Page 1


104 MATHEMA TICS
CHAPTER 8
QUADRILATERALS
8.1 Properties of a Parallelogram
You have already studied quadrilaterals and their types in Class VIII. A quadrilateral
has four sides, four angles and four vertices. A parallelogram is a quadrilateral in
which both pairs of opposite sides are parallel.
Let us perform an activity.
Cut out a parallelogram from a sheet of paper
and cut it along a diagonal (see Fig. 8.1). You obtain
two triangles. What can you say about these
triangles?
Place one triangle over the other. Turn one around,
if necessary. What do you observe?
Observe that the two triangles are congruent to
each other.
Repeat this activity with some more parallelograms. Each time you will observe
that each diagonal divides the parallelogram into two congruent triangles.
Let us now prove this result.
Theorem 8.1 : A diagonal of a parallelogram divides it into two congruent
triangles.
Proof : Let ABCD be a parallelogram and AC be a diagonal (see Fig. 8.2). Observe
that the diagonal AC divides parallelogram ABCD into two triangles, namely, ? ABC
and ? CDA. We need to prove that these triangles are congruent.
Fig. 8.1
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Page 2


104 MATHEMA TICS
CHAPTER 8
QUADRILATERALS
8.1 Properties of a Parallelogram
You have already studied quadrilaterals and their types in Class VIII. A quadrilateral
has four sides, four angles and four vertices. A parallelogram is a quadrilateral in
which both pairs of opposite sides are parallel.
Let us perform an activity.
Cut out a parallelogram from a sheet of paper
and cut it along a diagonal (see Fig. 8.1). You obtain
two triangles. What can you say about these
triangles?
Place one triangle over the other. Turn one around,
if necessary. What do you observe?
Observe that the two triangles are congruent to
each other.
Repeat this activity with some more parallelograms. Each time you will observe
that each diagonal divides the parallelogram into two congruent triangles.
Let us now prove this result.
Theorem 8.1 : A diagonal of a parallelogram divides it into two congruent
triangles.
Proof : Let ABCD be a parallelogram and AC be a diagonal (see Fig. 8.2). Observe
that the diagonal AC divides parallelogram ABCD into two triangles, namely, ? ABC
and ? CDA. We need to prove that these triangles are congruent.
Fig. 8.1
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QUADRILATERALS 105
In ? ABC and ? CDA, note that BC || AD and AC is a transversal.
So, ? BCA = ? DAC (Pair of alternate angles)
Also, AB || DC and AC is a transversal.
So, ? BAC = ? DCA (Pair of alternate angles)
and AC = CA (Common)
So, ? ABC ? ? CDA (ASA rule)
or, diagonal AC divides parallelogram ABCD into two congruent
triangles ABC and CDA.
Now, measure the opposite sides of parallelogram ABCD. What do you observe?
You will find that AB = DC and AD = BC.
This is another property of a parallelogram stated below:
Theorem 8.2 : In a parallelogram, opposite sides are equal.
Y ou have already proved that a diagonal divides the parallelogram into two congruent
triangles; so what can you say about the corresponding parts say, the corresponding
sides? They are equal.
So, AB = DC and AD = BC
Now what is the converse of this result? You already know that whatever is given
in a theorem, the same is to be proved in the converse and whatever is proved in the
theorem it is given in the converse. Thus, Theorem 8.2 can be stated as given below :
If a quadrilateral is a parallelogram, then each pair of its opposite sides is equal. So
its converse is :
Theorem 8.3 : If each pair of opposite sides of a quadrilateral is equal, then it
is a parallelogram.
Can you reason out why?
Let sides AB and CD of the quadrilateral ABCD
be equal and also  AD = BC (see Fig. 8.3). Draw
diagonal AC.
Clearly , ? ABC ? ? CDA (Why?)
So, ? BAC = ? DCA
and ? BCA = ? DAC (Why?)
Can you now say that ABCD is a parallelogram? Why?
Fig. 8.2
Fig. 8.3
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Page 3


104 MATHEMA TICS
CHAPTER 8
QUADRILATERALS
8.1 Properties of a Parallelogram
You have already studied quadrilaterals and their types in Class VIII. A quadrilateral
has four sides, four angles and four vertices. A parallelogram is a quadrilateral in
which both pairs of opposite sides are parallel.
Let us perform an activity.
Cut out a parallelogram from a sheet of paper
and cut it along a diagonal (see Fig. 8.1). You obtain
two triangles. What can you say about these
triangles?
Place one triangle over the other. Turn one around,
if necessary. What do you observe?
Observe that the two triangles are congruent to
each other.
Repeat this activity with some more parallelograms. Each time you will observe
that each diagonal divides the parallelogram into two congruent triangles.
Let us now prove this result.
Theorem 8.1 : A diagonal of a parallelogram divides it into two congruent
triangles.
Proof : Let ABCD be a parallelogram and AC be a diagonal (see Fig. 8.2). Observe
that the diagonal AC divides parallelogram ABCD into two triangles, namely, ? ABC
and ? CDA. We need to prove that these triangles are congruent.
Fig. 8.1
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QUADRILATERALS 105
In ? ABC and ? CDA, note that BC || AD and AC is a transversal.
So, ? BCA = ? DAC (Pair of alternate angles)
Also, AB || DC and AC is a transversal.
So, ? BAC = ? DCA (Pair of alternate angles)
and AC = CA (Common)
So, ? ABC ? ? CDA (ASA rule)
or, diagonal AC divides parallelogram ABCD into two congruent
triangles ABC and CDA.
Now, measure the opposite sides of parallelogram ABCD. What do you observe?
You will find that AB = DC and AD = BC.
This is another property of a parallelogram stated below:
Theorem 8.2 : In a parallelogram, opposite sides are equal.
Y ou have already proved that a diagonal divides the parallelogram into two congruent
triangles; so what can you say about the corresponding parts say, the corresponding
sides? They are equal.
So, AB = DC and AD = BC
Now what is the converse of this result? You already know that whatever is given
in a theorem, the same is to be proved in the converse and whatever is proved in the
theorem it is given in the converse. Thus, Theorem 8.2 can be stated as given below :
If a quadrilateral is a parallelogram, then each pair of its opposite sides is equal. So
its converse is :
Theorem 8.3 : If each pair of opposite sides of a quadrilateral is equal, then it
is a parallelogram.
Can you reason out why?
Let sides AB and CD of the quadrilateral ABCD
be equal and also  AD = BC (see Fig. 8.3). Draw
diagonal AC.
Clearly , ? ABC ? ? CDA (Why?)
So, ? BAC = ? DCA
and ? BCA = ? DAC (Why?)
Can you now say that ABCD is a parallelogram? Why?
Fig. 8.2
Fig. 8.3
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106 MATHEMA TICS
You have just seen that in a parallelogram each pair of opposite sides is equal and
conversely if each pair of opposite sides of a quadrilateral is equal, then it is a
parallelogram. Can we conclude the same result for the pairs of opposite angles?
Draw a parallelogram and measure its angles. What do you observe?
Each pair of opposite angles is equal.
Repeat this with some more parallelograms. We arrive at yet another result as
given below.
Theorem 8.4 : In a parallelogram, opposite angles are equal.
Now, is the converse of this result also true? Yes. Using the angle sum property of
a quadrilateral and the results of parallel lines intersected by a transversal, we can see
that the converse is also true. So, we have the following theorem :
Theorem 8.5 : If in a quadrilateral, each pair of opposite angles is equal, then
it is a parallelogram.
There is yet another property of a parallelogram. Let us study the same. Draw a
parallelogram ABCD and draw both its diagonals intersecting at the point O
(see Fig. 8.4).
Measure the lengths of OA, OB, OC and OD.
What do you observe? You will observe that
OA = OC and OB = OD.
or, O is the mid-point of both the diagonals.
Repeat this activity with some more parallelograms.
Each time you will find that O is the mid-point of
both the diagonals.
So, we have the following theorem :
Theorem 8.6 : The diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other.
Now, what would happen, if in a quadrilateral the diagonals bisect each other?
Will it be aparallelogram? Indeed this is true.
This result is the converse of the result of Theorem 8.6. It is given below:
Theorem 8.7 : If the diagonals of a quadrilateral bisect each other, then it is a
parallelogram.
You can reason out this result as follows:
Fig. 8.4
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Page 4


104 MATHEMA TICS
CHAPTER 8
QUADRILATERALS
8.1 Properties of a Parallelogram
You have already studied quadrilaterals and their types in Class VIII. A quadrilateral
has four sides, four angles and four vertices. A parallelogram is a quadrilateral in
which both pairs of opposite sides are parallel.
Let us perform an activity.
Cut out a parallelogram from a sheet of paper
and cut it along a diagonal (see Fig. 8.1). You obtain
two triangles. What can you say about these
triangles?
Place one triangle over the other. Turn one around,
if necessary. What do you observe?
Observe that the two triangles are congruent to
each other.
Repeat this activity with some more parallelograms. Each time you will observe
that each diagonal divides the parallelogram into two congruent triangles.
Let us now prove this result.
Theorem 8.1 : A diagonal of a parallelogram divides it into two congruent
triangles.
Proof : Let ABCD be a parallelogram and AC be a diagonal (see Fig. 8.2). Observe
that the diagonal AC divides parallelogram ABCD into two triangles, namely, ? ABC
and ? CDA. We need to prove that these triangles are congruent.
Fig. 8.1
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QUADRILATERALS 105
In ? ABC and ? CDA, note that BC || AD and AC is a transversal.
So, ? BCA = ? DAC (Pair of alternate angles)
Also, AB || DC and AC is a transversal.
So, ? BAC = ? DCA (Pair of alternate angles)
and AC = CA (Common)
So, ? ABC ? ? CDA (ASA rule)
or, diagonal AC divides parallelogram ABCD into two congruent
triangles ABC and CDA.
Now, measure the opposite sides of parallelogram ABCD. What do you observe?
You will find that AB = DC and AD = BC.
This is another property of a parallelogram stated below:
Theorem 8.2 : In a parallelogram, opposite sides are equal.
Y ou have already proved that a diagonal divides the parallelogram into two congruent
triangles; so what can you say about the corresponding parts say, the corresponding
sides? They are equal.
So, AB = DC and AD = BC
Now what is the converse of this result? You already know that whatever is given
in a theorem, the same is to be proved in the converse and whatever is proved in the
theorem it is given in the converse. Thus, Theorem 8.2 can be stated as given below :
If a quadrilateral is a parallelogram, then each pair of its opposite sides is equal. So
its converse is :
Theorem 8.3 : If each pair of opposite sides of a quadrilateral is equal, then it
is a parallelogram.
Can you reason out why?
Let sides AB and CD of the quadrilateral ABCD
be equal and also  AD = BC (see Fig. 8.3). Draw
diagonal AC.
Clearly , ? ABC ? ? CDA (Why?)
So, ? BAC = ? DCA
and ? BCA = ? DAC (Why?)
Can you now say that ABCD is a parallelogram? Why?
Fig. 8.2
Fig. 8.3
Reprint 2025-26
106 MATHEMA TICS
You have just seen that in a parallelogram each pair of opposite sides is equal and
conversely if each pair of opposite sides of a quadrilateral is equal, then it is a
parallelogram. Can we conclude the same result for the pairs of opposite angles?
Draw a parallelogram and measure its angles. What do you observe?
Each pair of opposite angles is equal.
Repeat this with some more parallelograms. We arrive at yet another result as
given below.
Theorem 8.4 : In a parallelogram, opposite angles are equal.
Now, is the converse of this result also true? Yes. Using the angle sum property of
a quadrilateral and the results of parallel lines intersected by a transversal, we can see
that the converse is also true. So, we have the following theorem :
Theorem 8.5 : If in a quadrilateral, each pair of opposite angles is equal, then
it is a parallelogram.
There is yet another property of a parallelogram. Let us study the same. Draw a
parallelogram ABCD and draw both its diagonals intersecting at the point O
(see Fig. 8.4).
Measure the lengths of OA, OB, OC and OD.
What do you observe? You will observe that
OA = OC and OB = OD.
or, O is the mid-point of both the diagonals.
Repeat this activity with some more parallelograms.
Each time you will find that O is the mid-point of
both the diagonals.
So, we have the following theorem :
Theorem 8.6 : The diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other.
Now, what would happen, if in a quadrilateral the diagonals bisect each other?
Will it be aparallelogram? Indeed this is true.
This result is the converse of the result of Theorem 8.6. It is given below:
Theorem 8.7 : If the diagonals of a quadrilateral bisect each other, then it is a
parallelogram.
You can reason out this result as follows:
Fig. 8.4
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QUADRILATERALS 107
Note that in Fig. 8.5, it is given that OA = OC
and OB = OD.
So,         ? AOB ? ? COD (Why?)
Therefore, ? ABO = ? CDO (Why?)
From this, we get AB || CD
Similarly,         BC || AD
Therefore ABCD is a parallelogram.
Let us now take some examples.
Example 1 : Show that each angle of a rectangle is a right angle.
Solution : Let us recall what a rectangle is.
A rectangle is a parallelogram in which one angle is a right angle.
 Let ABCD be a rectangle in which ? A = 90°.
We have to show that ? B = ? C = ? D = 90°
We have, AD || BC and AB is a transversal
(see Fig. 8.6).
So, ? A + ? B = 180° (Interior angles on the same
 side of the transversal)
But, ? A = 90°
So, ? B = 180° – ? A = 180° – 90° = 90°
Now, ? C = ? A and ? D = ? B
(Opposite angles of the parallellogram)
So, ? C = 90° and ? D = 90°.
Therefore, each of the angles of a rectangle is a right angle.
Example 2 : Show that the diagonals of a rhombus are perpendicular to each other.
Solution : Consider the rhombus ABCD (see Fig. 8.7).
You know that  AB = BC = CD = DA (Why?)
Now, in ? AOD and ? COD,
OA = OC (Diagonals of a parallelogram
bisect each other)
OD = OD (Common)
AD = CD
Fig. 8.5
Fig. 8.6
Fig. 8.7
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Page 5


104 MATHEMA TICS
CHAPTER 8
QUADRILATERALS
8.1 Properties of a Parallelogram
You have already studied quadrilaterals and their types in Class VIII. A quadrilateral
has four sides, four angles and four vertices. A parallelogram is a quadrilateral in
which both pairs of opposite sides are parallel.
Let us perform an activity.
Cut out a parallelogram from a sheet of paper
and cut it along a diagonal (see Fig. 8.1). You obtain
two triangles. What can you say about these
triangles?
Place one triangle over the other. Turn one around,
if necessary. What do you observe?
Observe that the two triangles are congruent to
each other.
Repeat this activity with some more parallelograms. Each time you will observe
that each diagonal divides the parallelogram into two congruent triangles.
Let us now prove this result.
Theorem 8.1 : A diagonal of a parallelogram divides it into two congruent
triangles.
Proof : Let ABCD be a parallelogram and AC be a diagonal (see Fig. 8.2). Observe
that the diagonal AC divides parallelogram ABCD into two triangles, namely, ? ABC
and ? CDA. We need to prove that these triangles are congruent.
Fig. 8.1
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QUADRILATERALS 105
In ? ABC and ? CDA, note that BC || AD and AC is a transversal.
So, ? BCA = ? DAC (Pair of alternate angles)
Also, AB || DC and AC is a transversal.
So, ? BAC = ? DCA (Pair of alternate angles)
and AC = CA (Common)
So, ? ABC ? ? CDA (ASA rule)
or, diagonal AC divides parallelogram ABCD into two congruent
triangles ABC and CDA.
Now, measure the opposite sides of parallelogram ABCD. What do you observe?
You will find that AB = DC and AD = BC.
This is another property of a parallelogram stated below:
Theorem 8.2 : In a parallelogram, opposite sides are equal.
Y ou have already proved that a diagonal divides the parallelogram into two congruent
triangles; so what can you say about the corresponding parts say, the corresponding
sides? They are equal.
So, AB = DC and AD = BC
Now what is the converse of this result? You already know that whatever is given
in a theorem, the same is to be proved in the converse and whatever is proved in the
theorem it is given in the converse. Thus, Theorem 8.2 can be stated as given below :
If a quadrilateral is a parallelogram, then each pair of its opposite sides is equal. So
its converse is :
Theorem 8.3 : If each pair of opposite sides of a quadrilateral is equal, then it
is a parallelogram.
Can you reason out why?
Let sides AB and CD of the quadrilateral ABCD
be equal and also  AD = BC (see Fig. 8.3). Draw
diagonal AC.
Clearly , ? ABC ? ? CDA (Why?)
So, ? BAC = ? DCA
and ? BCA = ? DAC (Why?)
Can you now say that ABCD is a parallelogram? Why?
Fig. 8.2
Fig. 8.3
Reprint 2025-26
106 MATHEMA TICS
You have just seen that in a parallelogram each pair of opposite sides is equal and
conversely if each pair of opposite sides of a quadrilateral is equal, then it is a
parallelogram. Can we conclude the same result for the pairs of opposite angles?
Draw a parallelogram and measure its angles. What do you observe?
Each pair of opposite angles is equal.
Repeat this with some more parallelograms. We arrive at yet another result as
given below.
Theorem 8.4 : In a parallelogram, opposite angles are equal.
Now, is the converse of this result also true? Yes. Using the angle sum property of
a quadrilateral and the results of parallel lines intersected by a transversal, we can see
that the converse is also true. So, we have the following theorem :
Theorem 8.5 : If in a quadrilateral, each pair of opposite angles is equal, then
it is a parallelogram.
There is yet another property of a parallelogram. Let us study the same. Draw a
parallelogram ABCD and draw both its diagonals intersecting at the point O
(see Fig. 8.4).
Measure the lengths of OA, OB, OC and OD.
What do you observe? You will observe that
OA = OC and OB = OD.
or, O is the mid-point of both the diagonals.
Repeat this activity with some more parallelograms.
Each time you will find that O is the mid-point of
both the diagonals.
So, we have the following theorem :
Theorem 8.6 : The diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other.
Now, what would happen, if in a quadrilateral the diagonals bisect each other?
Will it be aparallelogram? Indeed this is true.
This result is the converse of the result of Theorem 8.6. It is given below:
Theorem 8.7 : If the diagonals of a quadrilateral bisect each other, then it is a
parallelogram.
You can reason out this result as follows:
Fig. 8.4
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QUADRILATERALS 107
Note that in Fig. 8.5, it is given that OA = OC
and OB = OD.
So,         ? AOB ? ? COD (Why?)
Therefore, ? ABO = ? CDO (Why?)
From this, we get AB || CD
Similarly,         BC || AD
Therefore ABCD is a parallelogram.
Let us now take some examples.
Example 1 : Show that each angle of a rectangle is a right angle.
Solution : Let us recall what a rectangle is.
A rectangle is a parallelogram in which one angle is a right angle.
 Let ABCD be a rectangle in which ? A = 90°.
We have to show that ? B = ? C = ? D = 90°
We have, AD || BC and AB is a transversal
(see Fig. 8.6).
So, ? A + ? B = 180° (Interior angles on the same
 side of the transversal)
But, ? A = 90°
So, ? B = 180° – ? A = 180° – 90° = 90°
Now, ? C = ? A and ? D = ? B
(Opposite angles of the parallellogram)
So, ? C = 90° and ? D = 90°.
Therefore, each of the angles of a rectangle is a right angle.
Example 2 : Show that the diagonals of a rhombus are perpendicular to each other.
Solution : Consider the rhombus ABCD (see Fig. 8.7).
You know that  AB = BC = CD = DA (Why?)
Now, in ? AOD and ? COD,
OA = OC (Diagonals of a parallelogram
bisect each other)
OD = OD (Common)
AD = CD
Fig. 8.5
Fig. 8.6
Fig. 8.7
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108 MATHEMA TICS
Therefore, ? AOD ? ? COD
(SSS congruence rule)
This gives, ? AOD = ? COD (CPCT)
But, ? AOD + ? COD = 180° (Linear pair)
So, 2? AOD = 180°
or, ? AOD = 90°
So, the diagonals of a rhombus are perpendicular to each other.
Example 3 : ABC is an isosceles triangle in which AB = AC. AD bisects exterior
angle PAC and CD || AB (see Fig. 8.8). Show that
(i) ? DAC = ? BCA and (ii) ABCD is a parallelogram.
Solution : (i) ? ABC is isosceles in which AB = AC (Given)
So, ? ABC = ? ACB (Angles opposite to equal sides)
Also, ? PAC = ? ABC + ? ACB
(Exterior angle of a triangle)
or, ? PAC = 2? ACB (1)
Now, AD bisects ? PAC.
So, ? PAC = 2? DAC (2)
Therefore,
2? DAC = 2? ACB [From (1) and (2)]
or, ? DAC = ? ACB
(ii) Now, these equal angles form a pair of alternate angles when line segments BC
and AD are intersected by a transversal AC.
So, BC || AD
Also, BA || CD (Given)
Now, both pairs of opposite sides of quadrilateral ABCD are parallel.
So, ABCD is a parallelogram.
Example 4 : Two parallel lines l and m are intersected by a transversal p
(see Fig. 8.9). Show that the quadrilateral formed by the bisectors of interior angles is
a rectangle.
Fig. 8.8
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