FTCE General Knowledge Math Practice Test

How many sides does a quadrilateral have?

1. Two

2. Three

3. Four

4. Five

The correct answer is: Four

A quadrilateral is defined as a polygon that has four sides. The term itself is derived from the prefix "quad-" meaning four, and the suffix "-lateral" which relates to sides. In geometry, quadrilaterals can take various forms, such as squares, rectangles, parallelograms, trapezoids, and rhombuses, but they all share the common characteristic of having exactly four edges or sides. This fundamental property distinguishes quadrilaterals from other polygons, such as triangles, which have three sides, and pentagons, which have five sides. Understanding this definition is crucial for identifying and classifying different shapes within geometry.