Monday, April 20, 2015

Q is for . . .

I'm posting Mad-Cool-Math Nuggets this month.


Image courtesy: Gabrielle

Q is for quadrilateral or a four-sided polygon with four angles. Some common quadrilaterals include rectangles, squares, and parallelograms.

I bet you know what rectangles and square are. Heck, you might even be square, like me. In a parallelogram, like the name implies, the opposite sides must be parallel and equal in length.

One interesting fact about quadrilaterals is that no matter what kind you draw, you can connect the midpoints to make a parallelogram. (Source: The Twelve Most Controversial Facts in Mathematics from The Business Insider)

Here's an example from Wikipedia:
















Image courtesy: Wikicommons

In this picture, the black lines going from A to B to C to D form the grey quadrilateral. The midpoints are E, F, G, and H. The red lines between these midpoints form the red parallelogram in the middle.

Neato.

Did you take geometry in school? Like it? Hate it? For me, ninth grade geometry was special because the teacher turned out to be the mom of my best friend in kindergarden.
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29 comments:

  1. Quadrilaterals are cool! Remember how I've mentioned...probably a lot...how I'm no good in math? I was very bad at it in school. Especially algebra. But I LOVED geometry. For the first time I got straight A's in math and all the kids who normally did better than me were getting bad grades. I was the top student that year...and then next year was algebra again. *sighs*

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    1. It's funny how some people are good at one, but not the other, when it comes to algebra and geometry.

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  2. HA! I didn't know that parallelogram detail. I like learning something new! I didn't like geometry, but I love shapes--it is the theorem part I was bad at. Seemed less math and more memorizing...

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  3. Don't even get me started on geometry, LOL...I was never a big fan of math but I was good at it, but then once I went to college I didn't have to take it anymore so pretty much forgot everything I learned. And then I thought it would be a good idea to have geometry be an important part of my novel...yeah, so that's been hard! I've had to do a lot of research to try and remember everything.

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  4. HA! I didn't know that parallelogram detail. I like learning something new! I didn't like geometry, but I love shapes--it is the theorem part I was bad at. Seemed less math and more memorizing...

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  5. So, since I was on the Business track in school, back in the day, my math classes revolved around accounting, bookkeeping, taxes, that sort of thing. I was never exposed to algebra or geometry. And I didn’t go to college.
    Much later on in life, I decided that I wanted to pursue a degree. I had to take a bunch of remedial math classes, starting with algebra. It was hard at first, but once I got it, I loved it. But that too was a long time ago. I’ve forgotten everything.
    Your clear explanation along with the graphic made parallelograms easy to understand. Thanks :)

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  6. I enjoyed geometry in school. Most fascinating to me was when I studied Einstein's theory of relativity (in university), and got acquainted with Riemann geometry. There are some pretty odd things showing up like negative lengths. Einstein used this kind of geometry to describe space-time >:)

    Cold As Heaven

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  7. Well even though I have no clue about half of what you just said, great post! hahahahahahaha!!!! Thanks for popping by my blog :)
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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  9. I loved geometry, but I loathed algebra. :)

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  10. Hated geometry but love your posts! If only you had been my teacher!

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  11. Fascinating! Did not like geometry though.

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  12. Great word, just wish I could wrap my head around your example here and how it works! I'll have to show it to my husband and have him explain it to me! Yes, my brain is like that. Lisa, co-host AtoZ 2015, @ http://www.lisabuiecollard.com

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  13. I loved Geometry in High School. My son has it coming up now, I hope I remember enough to help him!

    --
    Tim Brannan, The Other Side Blog
    2015 A to Z of Vampires
    http://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/

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  14. Can't say I liked geometry but I do like the diagram you posted. It shouldn't work but it does.

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  15. Neato is right. Off to check out the link now.

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  16. Thanks for the informative article and thanks for visiting my blog. Please come again. :)

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  17. I have to say I hated geometry and I *still* can't draw a straight line to save my life... well, maybe to save my life, but only then.... and only if I had a ruler.

    For real :)

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  18. In a controversial turn of events, I was kicked out of Geometry in the first quarter. I had upset the teacher so much, while maintaining the highest score, that I was sent to the library for the rest of the year.

    Yeah, as punishment they sent me to the library. That did not have the desired result of making me feel punished.

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    1. Rebel without a chord, eh? I think throwing me in a library would also be akin to throwing Brer Rabbit in the Briar Patch.

      Delete

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