A parallelogram and a quadrilateral are both four-sided. A parallelogram comes under a quadrilateral. Because a quadrilateral means a four-sided shape. A parallelogram is a type of quadrilateral. Both the quadrilaterals as well as a parallelogram have their properties and characteristic, which set them apart from each other. The total of all angles of a parallelogram and quadrilateral is 360 degrees.
Parallelogram vs Quadrilateral
The main difference between parallelogram and quadrilateral is that a parallelogram is a four-sided shape which has its opposite sides having an equal length to each other, and on the other hand, the quadrilateral is a four-sided shape that may or may not have its opposite sides equal to each other as such like the parallelogram.
A parallelogram is a two-dimensional geometric figure. This shape has four sides to it, along with four corners. Out of these four sides, the opposite sides of a parallelogram have the same length. They not only have the same opposite lengths, but opposite sides are parallel to each other too.
A Quadrilateral is a two-dimensional geometric figure. This shape may or may not have all sides of it equal or parallel to each other. Many kinds of shapes come under the same category. A quadrilateral has four sides to it, along with four corners. The part ‘quad’ in quadrilateral means four.
Comparison Table Between Parallelogram and Quadrilateral
| Parameters of Comparison | Parallelogram | Quadrilateral |
| Defination | A parallelogram is a two-dimensional geometric figure, having its opposite sides equal to each other. | A quadrilateral is a geometric figure which is two-dimensional which may or may not have any of its sides equal. |
| Opposite sides | In a parallelogram, the opposite sides are always parallel to each other. | In a quadrilateral, the opposite sides may or may not be parallel to each other. |
| Opposite angles | In a parallelogram, the sum of the opposite angles is always equal: always 180 degrees that are supplementary angles. | The opposite angles of a quadrilateral may or may not always be equal or supplementary angles. |
| Types present | There are fewer types of the parallelogram as compared to the quadrilateral. | There are more types of quadrilateral as it is general as compared to parallelogram. |
| Characteristic | All parallelograms are said to be quadrilaterals. | Not all quadrilaterals cannot be said a parallelogram. |
What is Parallelogram?
A parallelogram is a two-dimensional geometric figure. This shape has four sides to it, along with four corners. Out of these four sides, the opposite sides of a parallelogram have the same length. They not only have the same opposite lengths, but opposite sides are parallel to each other too.
When a parallelogram is made to be divided, it can be cut into two triangles. These two triangles will be congruent to each other, and the angles formed alternating the interior angles will always be equal. The sides of the triangles which correspond to each other will also be equal to each other.
The angles of a parallelogram are always supplementary. Supplementary angles are those angles whose measure is always 180 degrees. There are different types of the parallelogram which are a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, etc. A laptop, a desk, a blackboard are all different kinds of examples of a parallelogram in our daily life.
What is Quadrilateral?
A Quadrilateral is a two-dimensional geometric figure. This shape may or may not have all sides of it equal or parallel to each other. Many kinds of shapes come under the same category. A quadrilateral has four sides to it, along with four corners. The part ‘quad’ in quadrilateral means four.
Many types of shapes come under the quadrilateral category. Each shape that comes under the quadrilateral has its functions and properties. The properties and characteristics of the shape depend on which kind of quadrilateral they are. For instance, a parallelogram is a quadrilateral having two sides equal, whereas a square is also a quadrilateral having all four sides equal.
The total measure of all angles of a quadrilateral is always 360 degrees. There are different types of a quadrilateral which are a square, a rectangle, a rhombus, and even a parallelogram, for that matter. A table, a desk, a kite are all different kinds of examples of a quadrilateral in our daily to day life.
Main Differences Between Parallelogram and Quadrilateral
- A parallelogram is a geometric figure which is two-dimensional, having its opposite sides equal to each other, and on the other hand, a quadrilateral is a geometric figure which is two-dimensional which may or may not have any of its sides equal.
- In a parallelogram, the opposite sides are always parallel to each other, and on the other hand, in a quadrilateral, the opposite sides may or may not be parallel to each other.
- In a parallelogram, the opposite angles are always equal, that is, always 180 degrees, and on the other hand, the opposite angles of a quadrilateral may or may not be always equal.
- There are fewer types of the parallelogram as compared to quadrilateral whereas, there are more types of the quadrilateral as it is general as compared to parallelogram.
- All parallelograms are said to be quadrilaterals, but all quadrilaterals cannot be said a parallelogram.
- The opposite side of a parallelogram is always said to be equal, whereas, in the case of a quadrilateral, the opposite sides may or may not be equal.
Conclusion
Both parallelograms and quadrilaterals are geometric features that are four-sided. A parallelogram comes under a quadrilateral. Because a quadrilateral means a four-sided shape. A parallelogram is a type of quadrilateral. The total of the sides of both these shapes measures 360 degrees.
Both the quadrilaterals as well as a parallelogram have their properties and characteristic, which set them apart from each other. We see both of them in our day-to-day lives quite often in the form of different objects and materials. One should always know the difference in their properties and characteristics as basic knowledge for them to incorporate within them.
References
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14794802.2014.933711
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03055698.2011.643106