FTCE General Knowledge Math Practice Test

What shape is defined as having opposite sides that are parallel and congruent?

1. Rectangle

2. Rhombus

3. Parallelogram

4. Square

The correct answer is: Parallelogram

A shape defined as having opposite sides that are both parallel and congruent is a parallelogram. This definition applies to all types of parallelograms, which include rectangles, rhombuses, and squares. Each of these shapes also exhibits special properties, but the essential characteristic of being a parallelogram is that it has opposite sides that maintain both parallelism and equal length. In the context of different types of quadrilaterals, all parallelograms fulfill the requirement of having two pairs of opposite sides that are parallel and congruent. While rectangles have right angles and rhombuses have all sides equal in length, these additional characteristics distinguish them from a general parallelogram. Therefore, the answer identifies the most basic definition of the shape, which encompasses a broader category than the specific conditions that define rectangles, rhombuses, or squares.