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Proving that Figures Are Parallelograms

Many times you will be asked to prove that a figure is a parallelogram. The following theorems are tests that determine whether a quadrilateral is a parallelogram:

Theorem 46: If both pairs of opposite sides of a quadrilateral are equal, then it is a parallelogram.

Theorem 47: If both pairs of opposite angles of a quadrilateral are equal, then it is a parallelogram.

Theorem 48: If all pairs of consecutive angles of a quadrilateral are supplementary, then it is a parallelogram.

Theorem 49: If one pair of opposite sides of a quadrilateral is both equal and parallel, then it is a parallelogram.

Theorem 50: If the diagonals of a quadrilateral bisect each other, then it is a parallelogram.

Quadrilateral QRST in Figure 1 is a parallelogram if:





Figure 1

A quadrilateral with its diagonals.


  • QR = ST and QT = RS, by Theorem 46.

  • mQ = mS and mT = mR, by Theorem 47.

  • Q and ∠ R,R and ∠ S,S and ∠ T, and ∠ Q and ∠ T are all supplementary pairs, by Theorem 48.

  • QR = ST and QR ST or QT = RS and QT RS , by Theorem 49.

  • QP = PS and RP = PT, by Theorem 50.

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