
Your simple quadrilateral could be either concave or convex. Do not let any line segments cross each other. Whether you have drawn a simple or complex, convex or concave quadrilateral, you did it correctly!ĭraw a simple quadrilateral. Draw four line segments so each endpoint touches one other endpoint. Use a straightedge or ruler to draw a quadrilateral. Quadrilateral ShapesĪll the other four-sided plane figures derive from the quadrilateral: Two sides of the quadrilateral can cross each other -a complex quadrilateral - which makes your quadrilateral look like two adjoining triangles. When two or four sides are equal, you get special types of quadrilaterals such as trapezoids and rectangles. Sides and angles can be equal or unequal. How many sides does a quadrilateral have?Ī quadrilateral has 4 straight sides. Four vertices (angles where sides meet at their endpoints).Complex - The quadrilateral has self-intersecting sidesĪ quadrilateral has two identifying properties:.Simple - The quadrilateral does not cross its sides (it is not self-intersecting).Concave - One interior angle is greater than 180° and one diagonal lies outside the shape.Convex - Each interior angle is less than 180° and the two diagonals are inside the closed space of the quadrilateral.Quadrilaterals appear in four different classifications: You could arrange your quadrilateral so line segments cross each other: you have a complex quadrilateral. Usually, the four sides do not cross each other, making a simple quadrilateral.

Maybe your four line segments made a pointy shape like an arrowhead you made a concave quadrilateral.

Maybe you arranged four sides so the shape looks full, which means you made a convex quadrilateral. If you connect the four linear objects at their eight ends, you have a quadrilateral, a four-sided polygon. Anything will do, and they do not have to be the same length: straws, rulers, dowels, pens - whatever you have handy. The easiest, fastest way to learn about quadrilaterals is to build one yourself.įind four straight objects to use as line segments (four = quadr side = lateral). A quadrilateral is a plane figure made with four line segments closing in a space.
