Khan Academy Wiki
Register
Quadrilateral types
Quadrilateral types 256
Description
Exercise Name: Quadrilateral types
Math Missions: 4th grade (U.S.) Math Mission, 5th grade (U.S.) Math Mission, High school geometry Math Mission
Types of Problems: 3

The Quadrilateral types exercise is under the 4th grade (U.S.) Math Mission, 5th grade (U.S.) Math Mission, and High school geometry Math Mission. This exercise practices knowledge of features of different quadrilaterals.

Types of Problems[]

There are three types of problems in this exercise:

  1. Use the picture to determine the quadrilateral: This problem has a quadrilateral drawn and labelled and asks the user to select which of the categories the quadrilateral falls under.
    Quadpic

    Us the picture to determine the quadrilateral

  2. Use the definition: This problem has a sentence with no picture. It asks the user to select answers from the right. The problem either has the type of quadrilateral in the problem and the properties in the answer choices, or vice-versa. The example shows a problem where users select what type of quadrilateral is being described.
    Quaddef

    Use the definition

  3. Drag into correct category: This problem concentrates on one type of quadrilateral and asks the user to drag examples of that quadrilateral into one box and non-examples into another.
    Quaddrag

    Drag into correct category

Strategies[]

This exercise is easy to get accuracy badges as long as the user is confident with the quadrilateral hierarchy. Speed badges are easy too since even the dragging problems can be done fairly efficiently if users know the definitions.

  1. Khan Academy defines a trapezoid as having at least one pair of parallel sides. Therefore a parallelogram is a trapezoid for previous exercises.
  2. With the exception of parallelogram, most answers will involve selecting multiple options.
  3. Research indicates that all drag and drop problems are divide with two in one category and three in the other.
  4. Because the screen moves downwards as users drag and drop, it seems best to fill the bottom category first if user can.

Real-life Applications[]

  1. The ancient Egyptians from over 4000 years ago were very good at shapes and geometry. Every time the Nile burst its banks and flooded the planes, they had to use geometry to measure their gardens and fields all over again.
  2. Architects use shapes and lots of geometry to construct bridges, roofs on houses, and other structures.