Kite- A Quadrilateral

Quadrilaterals – Kite Properties:

A polygon is a plane figure which is bounded by finite line segments to form a closed figure. A 4-sided polygon is known as a quadrilateral.

The sum of interior angles of a quadrilateral is always 360°. The number of diagonals in a n-sided polygon is given by

Kite is a quadrilateral in which two pairs of adjacent sides are of equal length and the diagonals intersect each other at right angles. The figure shown below represents a kite.

Figure 1 A Kite

The fig 1 above represents a quadrilateral and it can be represented as:

Figure 2

In quadrilateral ABCD, the sides AB = BC and AD = CD. Thus, as the adjacent pair of sides is equal in length, therefore ABCD is a special type of quadrilateral known as a kite.

Kite Properties:

• i)  Diagonals intersect at right angles.

  In a kite, the diagonals intersect at right angles. This can be proved as follows.

  From fig. 2 above, in ∆ABD and ∆BCD

AB=BC

AD=CD

BD is common.

Therefore ∆ABD ≅ ∆BCD (SSS rule of congruency)

Also, in ∆ABC and ∆ADC

AB = BC and AD = CD

Thus, ∆ABC is an isosceles triangle.

⇒ ∠BAO = ∠BCO

Thus, ∆ABO ≅ ∆BCO (ASA rule of congruency)

⇒∠AOB = ∠BOC (CPCT)

Also, ∠AOB + ∠BOC = 180° (Linear pair)

⇒ ∠AOB = ∠BOC = 90°

(NOTE: CPCT stands for congruent parts of congruent triangle)

•  ii)  One of the diagonals is the perpendicular bisector of another.

  As seen above ∆ABO ≅ ∆BCO and ∠AOB = ∠BOC = 90°

  ⇒ AO = OC (CPCT)

  Thus BD bisects AC at right angles.

• iii)  Angles between unequal sides are equal.

  Since, ∆BAD ≅ ∆BCD

  ⇒ ∠BAD = ∠BCD (CPCT)

• iv)  Area of a kite:

  If length of both diagonals is given as p and q as shown in the figure given below, area (A) of kite can be given as:

  

  Figure 3 Area of Kite

A =

• v) Rhombus as a special case of kite:

If all the sides of a kite become equal in length then that kite becomes a rhombus as sides are of equal length and diagonals are perpendicular to each other.

Click to read about Parallelogram Properties and more.