CBSE Class 8 · Mathematics
Quadrilaterals
Official NCERT chapter from Ganita Prakash Part I (book code hegp1). ExamMaster notes are original teaching at CBSE Class 8 depth.
This lesson follows the official chapter “Quadrilaterals” in Ganita Prakash Part I. The words below are ExamMaster’s teaching, not a paste from the book. Use the NCERT chapter for the classroom sequence; use these notes to hold the idea without copying exercises or figures.
- CBSE Class 8
- Easy level
- 8 concepts
1Rectangles and Squares
A rectangle has four right angles; a square is a rectangle with four equal sides. The test is angles and sides, not a “looks boxy” shrug.
A parallelogram that is long and thin is not a rectangle until 90° is tested.
Figure. A rectangle has four right angles; opposite sides are equal. A square is the rectangle whose sides are all equal — here the square is drawn 1:1 in this 1.8:1 frame (width = height / 1.8). The rectangle is drawn 2:1 visually. Right-angle L marks sit in one corner of each.
How it works
- Check four right anglesRectangle.
- Then check four equal sidesSquare if yes.
- Refuse a look-only boxRun the tests.
2Angles in a Quadrilateral
The four interior angles of any simple quadrilateral add to 360°. A split into two triangles (180° + 180°) is the reason at this class. One 90° does not finish the sum.
Adding only the two obvious corners is a half-sum.
Figure. Interior angles of any quadrilateral sum to 360°. This parallelogram is drawn with a true 60° at A and C and 120° at B and D in the 1.8:1 frame: the rise/run of AD is tan 60° after aspect. 60 + 120 + 60 + 120 = 360.
How it works
- See four interior anglesThis quad.
- Use 360° as the totalOr two triangles.
- Find a missing angle as 360° minus the three you knowThe job.
Missing angle
A quadrilateral has angles 80°, 95°, and 110°. What is the fourth?
- Sum of three285°
- Fourth360° − 285°
- Angle75°
Pro tip. Four interiors add to 360°.
3Quadrilaterals with Equal Sidelengths
A rhombus has four equal sides. A square is a rhombus with right angles. Equal sidelengths are the rhombus-test; 90° is extra for the square.
Four equal-looking ticks drawn freehand are not the test until you construct or measure.
Figure. A rhombus is the quadrilateral with all four sides equal. The diagonals here are perpendicular and bisect each other, so each side is 0.33 of the figure height — one length, four times. This is not a square: the diagonals are unequal (0.56 vs 0.36 visually).
How it works
- Check four equal sidesRhombus family.
- Check right angles if you need a squareThe extra test.
- A rhombus that is not a square has equal sides without 90°Two names.
4Playing with Quadrilaterals
Playing here means a property you can change and re-test: move a vertex, ask which name still holds. Play is a test-rerun, not doodling.
A pretty new drawing with no test is decoration.
Figure. Playing with a quadrilateral: shear a rectangle into a parallelogram. Both shapes share base 0.30 of the width and height 0.42 of the height, so the area is unchanged. The slant is a move, not a new area.
How it works
- Change one markA side or an angle.
- Rerun rectangle / rhombus / kite testsWhat still holds?
- Name what brokeThe play’s record.
5Kite and Trapezium
A kite has two pairs of adjacent equal sides. A trapezium (this class’s word) has one pair of parallel sides, as taught. Each name is a test, not a flying-toy photo.
A toy kite shape that fails adjacent-equals is not this kite.
Figure. A kite has two pairs of adjacent equal sides: here the upper pair and the lower pair are each matched, and the pairs differ. A trapezium has exactly one pair of parallel sides — the two horizontal bases on the right. The non-horizontal legs are not parallel.
How it works
- For a kite, check adjacent pairsAB=AD and CB=CD, or the taught pairing.
- For a trapezium, check exactly one parallel pair as taughtThe parallel test.
- Keep the names on the testsNot the photo.
6A definition is a test you can run
Quadrilateral is a test: four sides, closed. If you cannot count four closing sides, you have a broken path, not a quad.
A triangle with an extra tick is not four sides.
Figure. A definition is a test you can run, not a tidy picture. The left rhombus has four equal sides and still fails the right-angle test, so it is not a square. The right square passes both tests. Looks-like is not a reason.
How it works
- Count sides that closeFour.
- Then run a finer name if askedRectangle, kite…
- Start from four sidesThe definition.
7Name the given before the unknown
The given are the marks (ticks, arcs, parallel arrows, right-boxes). The unknown is the name or a missing angle. Read the marks before you say square.
Granting four 90° when only one box is drawn is a silent given.
Figure. Name the given before the unknown. Here ∠A = 60°, ∠B = 120°, ∠C = 60° are given. The unknown is ∠D. Opposite angles of this parallelogram are equal, and the four must sum to 360°, so D is 120° — but the figure leaves D as ?
How it works
- Copy the marksThe given.
- Name the questionType, or an angle.
- Use only those marksGiven first.
8One worked case is enough at this class
One named quad is enough. A page of the same rectangle clone does not add a new 360° rule.
Ten twins of 90-90-90-90 are still one idea.
Figure. One worked case is enough at this class: the same parallelogram with every angle filled. 60 + 120 + 60 + 120 = 360. A second fancy case would not change the test.
How it works
- Classify or compute one quadThe case.
- A second only if the name changesA check.
- StopThis class.
Interior angles of a quadrilateral add to
- 360°
- 180°
- 90°
Two triangles, or the taught total.
Notes
- The official chapter title is “Quadrilaterals”. Teach the school test for that title, not a contest shortcut.
- If a step needs a later class, stop. The next official chapter will pick it up.
Formulas
- sum of interior angles of a quadrilateral = 360°
Recap
Hold these pegs from the official chapter “Quadrilaterals”. The wording is ExamMaster’s teaching, not a textbook recap.
- Rectangles and Squares
- A rectangle has four right angles; a square is a rectangle with four equal sides.
- Angles in a Quadrilateral
- The four interior angles of any simple quadrilateral add to 360°.
- Quadrilaterals with Equal Sidelengths
- A rhombus has four equal sides. A square is a rhombus with right angles. Equal sidelengths are the rhombus-test; 90° is extra for the square.
- Playing with Quadrilaterals
- Playing here means a property you can change and re-test: move a vertex, ask which name still holds.
- Kite and Trapezium
- A kite has two pairs of adjacent equal sides.
- A definition is a test you can run
- Quadrilateral is a test: four sides, closed.
Practise Quadrilaterals
Reading is free and needs no account. Practice, mocks and progress live in the app.
- A 4-question practice set that ends the chapter
- 1 quick check with worked explanations
- Timed mocks scored with the real marking scheme
- Readiness tracked per topic, kept on your device