Special Quadrilaterals - Trapezoids, Isosceles Trapezoids, and Kites
Directions - Read in its entirety before starting or you will do the task wrong.
The interactive applet above contains trapezoid ABDC, isosceles trapezoid GG'F'F, and kite MJLH. Use each of their moveable points to form conclusions about what you believe the rules are for each. If you are not testing moving all of the points to see the figures' behavior, you will not learn very much from this. You are testing to see if there are any relevant geometric patterns. I suggest zooming in to see each shape on its own more clearly.Try to be as descriptive about the following possible characteristics (copy and paste the following text to format your responses):
-Diagonal lengths (relative to each other and along each diagonal relating to their point of intersection - only needed for the isosceles trapezoid and kite) -
-Diagonal intersection angle(s) (Can you cause your rule to break by moving points?) -
-Consecutive angle measurements (can you ever get them equal or not equal? To which pair does your rule/pattern apply?) -
-Opposite angle measurements (can you ever get them equal or not equal? To which pair does your rule/pattern apply?)-
-Adjacent side lengths (can you ever get them equal or not equal? For which sides?)-
-Opposite side lengths (can you ever get them equal or not equal? For which sides?) -
-Slopes of sides (consecutive and opposite pairs) -
Trapezoid (See shape ABDC)
What seem to be the special properties for a trapezoid, based on your observation? What indicates that to you? Be specific and include as much information as possible. Use appropriate academic vocabulary in your response.
Isosceles Trapezoid (See shape GG'F'F)
What seem to be the special properties for an isosceles trapezoid, based on your observation? What indicates that to you? Be specific and include as much information as possible. Use appropriate academic vocabulary in your response.
Kite (See shape MJLH)
What seem to be the special properties for a kite, based on your observation? What indicates that to you? Be specific and include as much information as possible. Use appropriate academic vocabulary in your response.