Teaching Quadrilateral Classification - Free Printable

Let’s go through each shape one by one and decide if it is a square, rectangle, rhombus, parallelogram, or trapezoid.

We’ll use these simple definitions:

- Square: 4 equal sides, 4 right angles (like a perfect box).
- Rectangle: Opposite sides equal, 4 right angles (like a door).
- Rhombus: 4 equal sides, but angles are not necessarily right angles (like a tilted square).
- Parallelogram: Opposite sides are parallel and equal (can be slanted).
- Trapezoid: Only ONE pair of opposite sides is parallel (like a table with one side shorter).

Now let’s look at each lettered shape:

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Shape A – It’s a slanted four-sided figure. Opposite sides are parallel and equal, but no right angles. So:
- Not a square (no right angles)
- Not a rectangle (no right angles)
- Not a rhombus (sides don’t look all equal — actually, in this drawing, they might be? Wait — let’s check carefully.)

Actually, looking again: Shape A has two long sides and two short sides → so NOT all sides equal → not a rhombus or square.

But opposite sides are parallel → so it IS a parallelogram.

Also, does it have exactly one pair of parallel sides? No — it has TWO pairs → so NOT a trapezoid.

So for Shape A:
→ Parallelogram = YES
Others = NO

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Shape B – This looks like a typical parallelogram too — slanted, opposite sides parallel and equal. Again, no right angles, sides not all equal.

Same as A:
→ Parallelogram = YES
Others = NO

Wait — but hold on! Is it possible that Shape B is also a rhombus? Let’s compare side lengths visually. In most textbook drawings, if it’s meant to be a rhombus, all sides are drawn equal. Here, the top and bottom look longer than the sides → so probably not a rhombus.

So same as A.

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Shape C – This is a perfect box — all sides equal? Actually, in the drawing, it looks like a square — all sides same length, all corners 90 degrees.

So:
→ Square = YES
And since a square is also a rectangle, rhombus, and parallelogram — we need to mark those too?

Wait — the quiz says: “Decide if each polygon is an example of the five types... Write Y or N”

That means: even if it’s a square, it’s ALSO a rectangle, rhombus, and parallelogram — because squares fit all those definitions.

BUT — sometimes quizzes want you to pick only the *most specific* name. However, the instructions say: “is an example of” — so if it fits the definition, write Y.

Let’s read the instruction again:
“Decide if each polygon is an example of the five types of quadrilaterals.”

So yes — a square IS an example of a rectangle, rhombus, and parallelogram.

BUT — wait! Look at the answer choices per shape. For Shape C, the options are numbered 11–15: square, rectangle, rhombus, parallelogram, trapezoid.

In many school quizzes, they expect you to mark ALL that apply — unless told otherwise.

However, let’s think practically: If a shape is a square, then:

- It is a square → Y
- It is a rectangle → Y (because rectangles have 4 right angles — squares do too)
- It is a rhombus → Y (rhombus has 4 equal sides — squares do too)
- It is a parallelogram → Y (opposite sides parallel — yes)
- It is a trapezoid → N (trapezoid has ONLY one pair of parallel sides — square has two pairs)

So for Shape C:
→ Square: Y
→ Rectangle: Y
→ Rhombus: Y
→ Parallelogram: Y
→ Trapezoid: N

BUT — I’ve seen some teachers say “only mark the most specific” — but the problem doesn’t say that. It says “is an example of”, so technically all correct categories should be marked Y.

However, let’s check common practice in such worksheets. Often, for a square, they expect you to mark only “square” — but that would be incorrect based on math definitions.

Wait — let me double-check the exact wording:
“Decide if each polygon is an example of the five types of quadrilaterals.”

An example means: does it belong to that category? Yes, a square belongs to all four: square, rectangle, rhombus, parallelogram.

But perhaps in this context, since it’s a classification quiz, they want the best fit? Hmm.

Looking at the scoring: “Each answer is worth 4 points” — and there are 5 questions per shape → 25 total answers.

If we mark multiple Ys for one shape, that’s fine — the student is being tested on knowing which categories apply.

I think we should go by strict mathematical definition.

So for Shape C (square):

- Square: Y
- Rectangle: Y
- Rhombus: Y
- Parallelogram: Y
- Trapezoid: N

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Shape D – This is a four-sided figure with only one pair of parallel sides (the top and bottom). The other two sides are not parallel.

So this is a trapezoid.

Check others:
- Square? No — not all sides equal, no right angles.
- Rectangle? No — no right angles, sides not matching.
- Rhombus? No — sides not all equal.
- Parallelogram? No — only one pair of parallel sides, not two.

So only trapezoid = Y

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Shape E – This is a diamond shape — all four sides look equal, but angles are not 90 degrees. So this is a rhombus.

Is it a square? No — no right angles.

Is it a rectangle? No — no right angles.

Is it a parallelogram? Yes — opposite sides are parallel (in a rhombus, they always are).

Is it a trapezoid? No — it has two pairs of parallel sides.

So for Shape E:
→ Rhombus: Y
→ Parallelogram: Y
Others: N

Wait — is a rhombus always a parallelogram? Yes — by definition, a rhombus is a type of parallelogram with all sides equal.

So yes, both rhombus and parallelogram should be Y.

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Now let’s summarize:

Shape A:
1. square → N
2. rectangle → N
3. rhombus → N
4. parallelogram → Y
5. trapezoid → N

Shape B:
6. square → N
7. rectangle → N
8. rhombus → N
9. parallelogram → Y
10. trapezoid → N

Shape C:
11. square → Y
12. rectangle → Y
13. rhombus → Y
14. parallelogram → Y
15. trapezoid → N

Shape D:
16. square → N
17. rectangle → N
18. rhombus → N
19. parallelogram → N
20. trapezoid → Y

Shape E:
21. square → N
22. rectangle → N
23. rhombus → Y
24. parallelogram → Y
25. trapezoid → N

Wait — but let me reconsider Shape C. In some curricula, especially at elementary level, they teach that a square is ONLY a square, and not to call it a rectangle or rhombus — even though mathematically it is.

But the problem says “is an example of” — which implies inclusion.

To be safe, let’s think about what the expected answer might be.

Looking at the image again — Shape C is drawn as a square. In many such quizzes, for a square, they expect:

- Square: Y
- Rectangle: Y (since all squares are rectangles)
- Rhombus: Y (all squares are rhombuses)
- Parallelogram: Y
- Trapezoid: N

Yes, that’s mathematically correct.

Similarly for rhombus (Shape E): it is also a parallelogram.

So I think our reasoning is solid.

Final Answers:

A: 4=Y, others N
B: 9=Y, others N
C: 11,12,13,14=Y; 15=N
D: 20=Y, others N
E: 23,24=Y; 21,22,25=N

Now, to present the final answer clearly:

Final Answer:
A: 1.N, 2.N, 3.N, 4.Y, 5.N
B: 6.N, 7.N, 8.N, 9.Y, 10.N
C: 11.Y, 12.Y, 13.Y, 14.Y, 15.N
D: 16.N, 17.N, 18.N, 19.N, 20.Y
E: 21.N, 22.N, 23.Y, 24.Y, 25.N