Parallelogram

A quadrilateral has both pairs of opposite sides parallel is called a parallelogram.

In figure 7-5, ABCD is a parallelogram in which

AB parallel to DC and AD parallel to BC . A parallelogram is denoted by the
symbol ‘ ‘.

Properties of a parallelogram

Property 1: A diagonal of a parallelogram divides it into two congruent triangles.

Given: ABCD is a parallelogram

To Prove: Triangle ABC ≅ Triangle ADC

Construction: Join AC
Proof: In Triangle ABC and Triangle ACD , we have

∠BAC = ∠ACD (Alternate interior angles)

∠ACB = ∠CAD (Alternate interior angles)

AC=AC (Common to both the triangles)

Therefore Triangle ABC ≅ Triangle ADC (ASA criterion of congruency)

Hence, diagonal AC divides the parallelogram into two congruent triangles.

Property 2: The opposite sides of a parallelogram are equal.

Given: A parallelogram ABCD.

To prove: AB=CD and DA=BC

Construction: Join AC
Proof: Since ABCD is a parallelogram, therefore,
AB parallel to DC and DA parallel to BC .

Now, AD parallel to BC and transversal AC intersects them at A and C

respectively.

Therefore ∠DAC = ∠BCA (Alternate interior angles) … (1)

Now, AB DC and transversal AC intersects them at A and C respectively.

Therefore ∠BAC = ∠DCA (Alternate interior angles) … (2)

Now, in ADC and CBA, we have

∠DAC = ∠BCA [From (1)]

AC=AC (Common side to both the triangles)

∠BAC = ∠DCA [From (1)]

Therefore By ASA criterion of congruence

Triangle ADC ≅ Triangle CBA

Thus, AD=BC and DC=BA

(Corresponding parts of congruent triangles are congruent).

Property 3: Opposite angles of a parallelogram are equal.

Given: ABCD is a parallelogram

To prove: ∠A = ∠C and ∠B = ∠D

Proof: In parallelogram ABCD, AB parallel to DC and DA intersects them.

therefore ∠A + ∠D = 180o (Consecutive interior angles) … (1)

Again, in parallelogram ABCD, AD parallel to BC and AB intersects them

Therefore ∠A + ∠B = 180o (Consecutive interior angles) … (2)

From (1) and (2), we get

∠A + ∠D = ∠A + ∠B

∠D = ∠B ⇒ ∠B = ∠D

Similarly ∠A = ∠C

Hence ∠A = ∠C and ∠D = ∠B
Property 4: The diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other.

Given: A parallelogram ABCD in which the diagonals AC and AD intersect at O.

To prove: OA=OC and OB=OB

Proof: Since ABCD is a parallelogram

Therefore AB parallel to DC and Therefore AD parallel to BC

Now, AB parallel to DC and AC is the transversal intersecting them at A and C

respectively.

Therefore ∠BAC = ∠DCA (Alternate interior angles)

Thus, ∠BAO = ∠DCO … (1)

As AB parallel to DC and BD intersects them at B and D respectively.

Therefore ∠ABD = ∠CDB (Alternate interior angles)

So, ∠ABD = ∠CDO … (2)

Now, in Triangle AOB and Triangle COD , we have

∠BAO = ∠DCO [From (1)]

AB=CD (Opposite sides of a parallelogram)

∠ABO = ∠CDO [From (2)]

therefore ASA congruence criterion

Triangle AOB ≅ Triangle COD

Thus, OA=OC and OB=OB (Corresponding parts of congruent triangles are

congruent)

Therefore The diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other.

Property 5: The consecutive angles of a parallelogram are supplementary.

Given: Parallelogram ABCD

To prove: ∠A + ∠ABC = 180o

Construction: Produce AB to P

Proof: Since AD parallel to BC and AB is the transversal,

Therefore ∠A = ∠CBP (Corresponding angles) … (1)

Now, ∠ABC + ∠CBP = 180o (They form a linear pair) … 92)

From (1) and (2), we have

∠ABC + ∠A = 180o ( Since ∠CBP = ∠A )

or ∠A + ∠ABC = 180o

So, consecutive angles of a parallelogram are supplementary

Sufficient conditions for a quadrilateral to be a parallelogram

The condition, which a quadrilateral must satisfy to become a parallelogram are

know as ‘sufficient conditions’.

Condition 1: A quadrilateral is a parallelogram if its opposite sides are equal.

Given: A quadrilateral ABCD in which AB=CD and BC=AD

To prove: ABCD is a parallelogram

Construction: Join AC

Proof: In Triangle ABC and Triangle ADC ,

AB=CD (Given)

BC=AD (Given)

AC=AC (Common to both the triangles)

Therefore Triangle ABC ≅ Triangle ADC (SSS criterion of congruency)

Thus, ∠BAC = ∠DCA (Corresponding parts of congruent triangles are

congruent)

Therefore ∠BAC and ∠DCA are alternate interior angles.

Hence AC DC

Now, ∠BAC = ∠DCA (cpctc)

Thus, these are alternate interior angles,

Therefore BC parallel to AD

Hence, quadrilateral ABCD is a parallelogram.

Condition 2: A quadrilateral is a parallelogram if its opposite angles are equal.

Given: A quadrilateral ABCD, in which ∠A = ∠C and ∠B = ∠D

To prove: Quadrilateral ABCD is a parallelogram

Proof: In quadrilateral ABCD

∠A = ∠ C (Given)

∠B = ∠D (Given)

Therefore ∠A + ∠B = ∠C + ∠D … (1)

But ∠A + ∠B + ∠C + ∠D = 360o

(Sum of the angles of a quadrilateral = 360o ) … (2)

From (1) and (2), we have

∠A + ∠B + ∠C + ∠D = 360o [ Since ∠A + ∠B = ∠C + ∠D ]

∠A + ∠B + ∠A + ∠B = 360o

2∠A + 2∠B = 360o

2(∠A + ∠B) = 360o

360o
(∠A + ∠B) =
2

(∠A + ∠B) = 180o … (3)

Therefore ∠C + ∠D = 180o [ Since ∠A + ∠B = ∠C + ∠D ]… (4)

Since, transversal AB intersects lines AD and BC at A and B respectively, and

(∠A + ∠B) = 180o

Therefore ∠A and ∠B form a pair of consecutive interior angles and consecutive

interior angles are supplementary)

So, AD parallele to BC … (5)

Again, ∠A = ∠C

Therefore By using this relation in (3), we have

∠C + ∠B = 180o
Now, AB and DC are the lines and BC is the transversal,

Therefore ∠B and ∠C form a pair of consecutive interior angles and consecutive

interior angles are supplementary)

Thus, AB parallel to DC … (6)

From (5) an (6), we find that

AD parallel to BC and AB parallel to DC

Hence, quadrilateral ABCD is a parallelogram

Condition 3: If the diagonals of a quadrilateral bisect each other, then the

quadrilateral is a parallelogram

Given: A quadrilateral ABCD, diagonals AC and BD intersect at O such that

AO=OC and BO=OB.

To prove: Quadrilateral ABCD is a parallelogram.

Proof: In Triangle AOD and Triangle COB, we have

AO=OC (Given)

OD=OB (Given)
∠AOD = ∠COB (Vertically opposite angles are equal)

Therefore By SAS criterion of congruence,

Triangle AOD ≅ Triangle COB

So, ∠OAD = ∠OCB … (1) (cpctc)

Now, lines AC intersects AD and BC at A and C respectively, such that

∠OAD = ∠OCB … [From (10]

Therefore ∠OAD and ∠OCB form a pair of alternate interior angles

(Therefore Alternate interior angles are equal)

Thus, AD parallel to BC

Similarly, we can prove that AB parallel to DC

Hence quadrilateral ABCD is a parallelogram

Condition 4: A quadrilateral is a parallelogram, if its one pair of opposite sides

are equal and parallel.

Given: A quadrilateral ABCD in which AB=CD and AB parallel to CD .

To prove: ABCD is a parallelogram

Construction: Join AC.

Proof: In Triangle ABC and Triangle CDA , we have

AB=CD (Given)

AC=AC (Common to both triangles)

∠BAC = ∠DCA ( Since AB parallel to DC and alternate interior angles

are equal)

Therefore Triangle ABC ≅ Triangle DCA (SAS criterion of congruency)

Thus ∠ACB = ∠CAD (cpctc)

But these are alternate interior angles,

Therefore AD Parallel to BC

Thus we have AD parallel to BC (proved above) and AD CD (given).

Hence ABCD is a parallelogram.

Condition 5: A quadrilateral is a parallelogram if its opposite sides are

parallel.
Proof: From the definition of a parallelogram, a quadrilateral whose opposite
sides are parallel is called a parallelogram, the condition holds.
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