CHAPTER 12

QUADRILATERALS AND
OTHER POLYGONS
This section covers several topics dealing with quadrilaterals and other poly-
gons, such as area, perimeter, angle sum, and angle relationships. Begin with
the mathematics review and then complete and correct the practice prob-
lems. There are 2 Solved SAT Problems and 16 Practice SAT Questions with
answer explanations.
Quadrilateral—a four-sided polygon
Parallelogram—a quadrilateral with:

B
C

A D

—– —– —– —–
1. Opposite sides parallel. AB 冩 CD and BC 冩 AD
—– —– —– —–
2. Opposite sides congruent. AB ≅ CD and BC ≅ AD
3. Opposite angles congruent. ∠B ≅ ∠D and ∠A ≅ ∠C
4. Consecutive angles supplementary.
m∠A + m∠B = 180° and m∠B + m∠C = 180°.
m∠C + m∠D = 180° and m∠D + m∠A = 180°.

B
C

A D
b

5. A = b × h.

Rectangle—a parallelogram with all right angles.

148
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CHAPTER 12 / QUADRILATERALS AND OTHER POLYGONS 149

Square—a rectangle with all sides congruent.

Every polygon can be partitioned into nonoverlapping triangles as shown

below.

The number of triangles that are formed is two less than the number of sides.
The sum of the measures of the angles in a triangle is 180°. Therefore, any
polygon having n sides has an angle sum of (n − 2) × 180°.
Regular Polygon—a polygon where all sides are congruent, and all angles
are congruent.
A Central Angle of a regular polygon is formed when segments are con-
structed from the center of the polygon to the vertices of the polygon.
Each Central Angle of a regular polygon is congruent having a measure
360°
of where n is the number of angles. The triangles that are formed
n
through this process are also congruent.

Example:
What is the area of the rectangle seen below?

13

12

By noticing that a 5-12-13 triangle exists we can see that the height of the tri-
angle is 5. Therefore, A = 12 × 5 = 60.
150 CONQUERING SAT MATH

Example:
The area of the rectangle seen below is 36. What is the value of x?

2x + 5

x+2

Solve for A = (2x + 5)(x + 2) = 2x2 + 9x + 10 = 36.

Factor 2x2 + 9x − 26 = 0 ⇒ (x − 2)(2x + 13) = 0
x − 2 = 0 ⇒ x = 2. : 2 x + 13 = 0, 2 x = −13, x = −6.5

x = 2 is correct. x = −6.5 would create a negative length. That is impossible.

Example:
In the parallelogram seen below, m∠ABC =

B
C
(7x + 5)° (3x + 15)°

A D

m∠B + m∠C = 180°

7 x + 5 + 3 x + 15 = 180° ⇒ 10 x + 20 = 180°
10 x = 160° ⇒ x = 16

m∠ABC = Substitute 16 for x. 7(x) + 5 = 7(16) + 5 = 117°.

Example:
What is the value of x in the square below?

x+4

2x + 3

All sides of a square are the same length.

2 x + 3 = x + 4 ⇒ x = 1.
CHAPTER 12 / QUADRILATERALS AND OTHER POLYGONS 151

Example:
What is the angle sum of an octagon?
An octagon has eight sides.
(8 − 2) × 180° = 6 × 180° = 1, 080°.

Example:
m∠A + m∠B + m∠C =

90° E
B

130°
D

m∠A + m∠B + m∠C + m∠D + m∠E = 3(180° ) = 540°

Substitute m∠D = 130° m∠E = 90°.
m∠A + m∠B + m∠C + 130° + 90° = 540°
m∠A + m∠B + m∠C + 220° = 540°
m∠A + m∠B + m∠C = 320°

Example:
What is the measure of each central angle in a regular hexagon?
Calculate 360° divided by the number of sides.
360°
= 60°
6

Practice Questions

1. The perimeter of the rectangle below is 50. What is the value of x?

2x + 2

4x – 1
152 CONQUERING SAT MATH

2. In the parallelogram below, m∠ABC =

B C
(10x)°

(9x + 12)°
A D

3. The measure of the angles is a quadrilateral are in a ratio of 2:4:5:7. What

is the measure of each of the angles?
4. What is the perimeter of the square seen below?

5√2

Practice Answers

1. x = 4.
2. m∠ABC = 120°.
3. 40°:80°:100°:140°
4. P = 20

SOLVED SAT PROBLEMS

1. The length of each side of the square below is 6. P, Q, R, and S are

each midpoints. What is the area of the shaded region (middle
region)?

S Q

R
CHAPTER 12 / QUADRILATERALS AND OTHER POLYGONS 153

A. 36
B. 27
C. 18
D. 9
E. 4

Answer: B
Each side has a length 6.
Each midpoint partitions the sides into segments length 3.

3 P 3

3 3

S Q

3 3

3 R 3

Area of the square is 6 × 6 = 36. The combined area of the two

1
non-shaded triangles is 2( × 3 × 3) = 3 × 3 = 9. Therefore, the
2
area of the shaded region is the area of the square minus the area
of the nonshaded region. 36 − 9 = 27.
2. All rectangles below are congruent. Which choice lists all those
figures with the largest shaded region?

I.

II.

III.
154 CONQUERING SAT MATH

A. I only
B. II only
C. III only
D. I and II
E. I, II, and III
Answer: E
Let the length and width of the rectangle be any two values. I will
choose 4 and 6.

4 1 3 4

Area of triangles 1 and 3

1
b = 4 and h = × 6 = 3.
2
1
A= × 4 × 3 = 6.
2

Area of triangles 2 and 4

1
b = 6 and h = × 4 = 2.
2
1
A= × 6 × 2 = 6.
2
All triangles have the same area and all the shaded regions have
the same area.
CHAPTER 12 / QUADRILATERALS AND OTHER POLYGONS 155

QUADRILATERALS AND OTHER POLYGONS

PRACTICE SAT QUESTIONS
ANSWER SHEET
Choose the correct answer.
If no choices are given, grid the answers in the section at the bottom of the page.

1. A B C D E 11. A B C D E
2. A B C D E 12. A B C D E
3. A B C D E 13. A B C D E
4. A B C D E 14. A B C D E
5. A B C D E 15. GRID
6. GRID 16. A B C D E
7. GRID
8. A B C D E
9. A B C D E
10. A B C D E

Use the answer spaces in the grids below if the question requires a grid-in response.

ONLY ANSWERS ENTERED IN THE CIRCLES IN EACH GRID WILL BE SCORED. YOU WILL
Student-Produced Responses NOT RECEIVE CREDIT FOR ANYTHING WRITTEN IN THE BOXES ABOVE THE CIRCLES.

6. 7. 15.

/ / / / / / / / /
. . . . . . . . . . . .

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5
6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
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CHAPTER 12 / QUADRILATERALS AND OTHER POLYGONS 157

PRACTICE SAT QUESTIONS

1. If the perimeter of the rectangle below is 56, what is 5. What is the value of x in the parallelogram below?
the value of the base?
(15x – 7)°

10
(13x + 9)°

A. 6
A. 18
B. 8
B. 20
C. 10
C. 36
D. 12
D. 40
E. 14
E. 56

2. What is the perimeter of a square with area 49? 6. The area of the rectangle below is 40. What is the
perimeter?
A. 4
B. 7
C. 14
D. 28
E. 35 x+3

3. What is the area of the rectangle below?

x+6

60°
7. What is the area of the square below?
20

A. 10 3
4x – 3
B. 20 3
C. 40 3
D. 50 3
E. 100 3 2x + 5

4. What is the value of x in the parallelogram below?

x° 40°

A. 40
B. 80
C. 140
D. 260
E. 320
158 CONQUERING SAT MATH

8. If the area of the rectangle is 120, what is the area of 11. The base of a rectangle is three times as long as the
triangle CPD? height. If the perimeter is 64, what is the area of the
rectangle?
A P B A. 24
B. 64
C. 96
D. 192
E. 216

12. What is the value of x in the figure seen below?

C D x

A. 60
B. 100 10
C. 120
6
D. 200
E. 240
10
9. In the parallelogram below, if x is 4 times as big as y,
then x − y =
A. 4
x° y° B. 4 2
C. 8
D. 8 2
E. 16

13. What is the area of a regular hexagon with perimeter

24?

A. 36 A. 4 3
B. 108 B. 8 3
C. 144
D. 180 C. 12 3
E. 220 D. 16 3

10. What is the area of the parallelogram below? E. 24 3

14. The angles of a pentagon are in ratio 9:10:12:14:15.

What is the sum of measures of the smallest and
20
largest angles?
A. 54°
B. 81°
60° C. 135°
D. 216°
40
E. 270°
A. 80
B. 120
C. 10 3
D. 100 3
E. 400 3
CHAPTER 12 / QUADRILATERALS AND OTHER POLYGONS 159

15. What is the area of the figure seen below? 16. Which of the following expressions represents the
area of the shaded region below?

y x

x
15
y

12 y
3
5 x

x y
4

A. x2 + y2.
B. 2(x2 + y2).
C. 2xy
D. x2 + 2xy + y2.
E. x + y.
160 CONQUERING SAT MATH

EXPLAINED ANSWERS

1. Answer: A
Use the perimeter formula. Substitute P = 56 and h = 6
P = 2h + 2b ⇒ 56 = 2 (10 ) + 2b ⇒ 56 = 20 + 2b
Solve for b. 36 = 2b ⇒ 18 = b.

2. Answer: D
Use the area formula. Substitute A = 49 and solve for s.
A = s 2 ⇒ 49 = s 2 ⇒ 7 = s
Find the perimeter. P = 4 × 7 = 28.

3. Answer: E

60°
20
10

30°
Notice the triangle is a 30°-60°-90° right triangle. So the height opposite the 30° angle is 10, and the base opposite
the 60° angle is 10 3.
Find the area.

A = 10 × 10 3 = 100 3.

4. Answer: C
The sum of x and 40 is 180°.
That means x = 180 − 40 = 140.

5. Answer: B
Opposite angles have equal measures.
15 x − 7 = 13x + 9 ⇒ 2 x = 16 ⇒ x = 8.

6. Answer: 26
The area equals base times height.
( x + 3) ( x + 6 ) = 40 ⇒ x 2 + 9 x − 22 = 0 ⇒ ( x − 2 ) ( x + 11) = 0

Solve for x. x − 2 = 0 ⇒ x = 2
x + 11 = 0 ⇒ x = −11.
x must equal 2, the length of a side cannot be negative.
Add to find base and height. b = x + 6 = 2 + 6 = 8 and h = x + 3 = 2 + 3 = 5
Find the perimeter. P = 2(8) + 2(5) = 26.
CHAPTER 12 / QUADRILATERALS AND OTHER POLYGONS 161

7. Answer: 169
The sides of a square have equal lengths. Write an equation.
4 x − 3 = 2 x + 5 ⇒ 2 x = 8 ⇒ x = 4.
Substitute 4 in either equation to find the length of a side.
s = 4 x − 3 = 4 ( 4 ) − 3 = 13 ⇒ A = 132 = 169
s = 2 x + 5 = 2 ( 4 ) + 5 = 13
Area = 132 = 169

8. Answer: A
The base and height for the triangle and rectangle are equal.
1
The area of the rectangle is 120. The area of the triangle is half the area of the rectangle, (120) = 60.
2
9. Answer: B
The sum of consecutive angles is 180°
x + y = 180
Substitute 4y for x. 4y + y = 180 ⇒ 5y = 180
Solve for y. y = 36
Substitute 36 for y. x = 4(36) = 144.
x − y = 144 − 36 = 108.

10. Answer: E
Draw the height to form a 30°-60°-90° right triangle.
The height is across from the 60° angle so the height is 10 3

Substitute b = 40 and h = 10 3 . A = b × h = 40 × 10 3 = 400 3 .

20 10√3

60°
10

40

11. Answer: D
Draw a picture.

3x

x x

3x
The perimeter is 64 so 8x = 64 ⇒ x = 8
So, h = 8 and b = 3(8) = 24.
Substitute h = 8 and b = 24 in the area formula. A = b × h = 8 × 24 = 192.
162 CONQUERING SAT MATH

12. Answer: B
Draw on the diagram.
6

45° x
4
45°
4
10
6

10

The triangle formed is a 45°-45°-90° right triangle so x = 4 2 .

13. Answer: E
In the hexagon below one of the six congruent equilateral triangles that fill in the entire hexagon is shown. Draw the
height to form two 30°-60°-90° right triangles. The height is 2 3 because it is across from the 60° angle.
1 1
Substitute b = 4 and h = 2 3 in the triangle area formula. A = ×b×h= ×4×2 3 =4 3 .
2 2
Therefore, the area of the entire hexagon is = 6 × 4 3 = 24 3 .

4 4

30° 30°

4 4
2√3

60° 60°
2 2

4
CHAPTER 12 / QUADRILATERALS AND OTHER POLYGONS 163

14. Answer: D
The angle sum of the angles in a pentagon
( 5 − 2 ) × 180° = 3 × 180° = 540°.
Use the ratio from the problem to write an equation. Solve for x.
9 x + 10 x + 12 x + 14 x + 15 x = 540° ⇒ 60 x = 540° ⇒ x = 9.
The smallest angle is 9(9) = 81° and the largest angle is 15(9) = 135°.
Therefore, the sum of the smallest angle and the largest angle is 81° + 135° = 216°.

15. Answer: 97
Split the figure in to regions. Find the area of each region.

8
III
15
7

7 II 7
12
3
5 I 5

1
AI = 4 × 5 = 20 AII = 7 × 7 = 49 AIII = × 7 × 8 = 28.
2
Total Area = 20 + 49 + 28 = 97.

16. Answer: C
The base of each of the shaded triangles is x, and the height of each is y. The area of each of the shaded triangles is
1 ⎛1 ⎞
AT = xy. That means the area of the entire shaded region is AS = 4 ⎜ xy⎟ = 2xy.
2 ⎝2 ⎠

y x

x y