FTCE General Knowledge Math Practice Test

What describes a parallelogram?

1. Two pairs of opposite sides are congruent

2. Only one pair of opposite sides is parallel

3. All sides are equal

4. Angles are all 90 degrees

The correct answer is: Two pairs of opposite sides are congruent

A parallelogram is defined by having two pairs of opposite sides that are congruent. This means that each pair of opposite sides has equal length, which is a key characteristic of parallelograms. In addition to this property, parallelograms also have opposite sides that are parallel, but the defining feature in this context is the congruency of the sides. The other options describe properties that do not uniquely or accurately characterize parallelograms. For instance, stating that only one pair of opposite sides is parallel pertains to trapezoids, not parallelograms. Meanwhile, saying that all sides are equal characterizes a rhombus or square, which are specific types of parallelograms, rather than a general parallelogram. Finally, stating that all angles are 90 degrees describes a rectangle or square, emphasizing a specific type of parallelogram rather than the general definition. Thus, the correctness of the first option lies in its accurate representation of a fundamental property shared by all parallelograms.