Definition of
Quadrilateral
The first thing we are going to do, before fully entering into the establishment of the meaning of the term quadrilateral, is to determine its etymological origin. In this sense, we can say that it is a word that emanates from Latin, from the word “quadrilaterus” which can be translated as “that has four sides”. She, in turn, is made up of two clearly differentiated parts:
• “Quadri”, which comes from “quattuor” and which is synonymous with “four”.
• “Latus”, which means “side”.
Quadrilateral It is a concept that is used to name that which has four sides.
It must be borne in mind that within the scope of geography the term quadrilateral that concerns us now is used. Specifically, there is talk, for example, of what has been called the Bohemian Quadrilateral, which is a space determined by four mountain nuclei and which in the past formed what was the historical border of the Countries Czechs.
Those four mountain groups are the Ore Mountains, the Bohemian Forest, the Sudeten Mountains, and the Giant Mountains.
Its most frequent use is in the geometry. A quadrilateral, in this sense, is a polygon whose sides are four. This means that the quadrilateral is determined by four segments that make it up.
As they have four sides, all quadrilaterals also have two diagonals, four vertices, and four interior angles. These characteristics are maintained beyond the shape of the quadrilateral, which can vary.
The squaresthe diamonds and the rectangles, for example, are quadrilaterals: they therefore have four sides, four vertexes, four interior angles, and two diagonals. However, it is evident that the shape of these three geometric figures is not identical.
What varies in quadrilaterals with respect to their shape is the arrangement of their sides; The points to take into account to establish a classification of quadrilaterals is the parallelism of their sides, as well as the length of each one and their interior angles. Based on these variables, it is possible to distinguish between the following types:
* parallelogram: its opposite sides, that is, those whose vertices do not touch, are parallel;
* square: it is the simplest figure of all, both when it comes to performing calculations on it and drawing it, even for people who do not have specific knowledge of geometry or mathematics in general. All the sides of a square are equal, as well as all its interior angles (which are 90 degrees and are called straight) and its diagonals (which not only coincide in their measure but are perpendicular to each other). Finally, the square is a figure belonging to the group of bisectors, which means that it can be divided into two equal parts, and it has an inscribed circumference, that is, it is interior and tangent to each of its sides;
* rhombus: it is similar to a square, since it also has its four equal sides, but its interior angles are not right, but two are acute and two are obtuse, and each pair coincides in measure. Their diagonals, on the other hand, are different, one being greater than the other, although they are also perpendicular to each other. The rhombus, like the square, is a bisector and has an inscribed circle;
* rectangle: its parallel sides, those that do not share vertices, are equal to each other. In the same way as the square, its interior angles are right and all its diagonals measure the same, although in this case they are not perpendicular to each other, given the differences in their sides. Its circumference, unlike the previous figures, is circumscribed, which means that it is external and passes through all its vertices, instead of being tangent to its sides;
* rhomboid: its two minor sides and its two majors are equal to each other;
* trapezoid: only two of its sides are parallel and it can be a rectangle (one of its sides is perpendicular to its bases, two of its internal angles are right, one obtuse and the other acute), isosceles (its non-parallel sides measure the same, has two acute and two obtuse angles equal to each other) or scalene (its four internal angles are different).
Outside of geometry, the quadrilateral is known as boxing ring and other spaces intended to host a fight for sporting purposes. As can be supposed, the quadrilateral has four sides, which are delimited by ropes, wire fences or other materials. For example: “The Uruguayan boxer promised that he would end up standing in the ring”, “The hook to the jaw threw the American out of the ring”, “If you’re afraid, you can’t get into the ring”.
Among the most important rules that boxers must comply with within the ring, these stand out:
• The size of the ring must be at least 7.3 meters per side.
• Each round has a time of 3 minutes.
• Hits from the waist down are not allowed.
• If a boxer falls, he must get up without the help of anyone within a maximum period of ten seconds to continue the fight.
It should not be forgotten either that in the Tenerife city of La Laguna, Cuadrilátero is the name of the most important nightlife area. It is made up of all kinds of bars, discos, pubs…