Which four-sided shape has exactly one pair of parallel sides?

Study for the MSTEP 3rd Grade Math Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which four-sided shape has exactly one pair of parallel sides?

Explanation:
Having exactly one pair of parallel sides defines a trapezoid. In this four-sided figure, the top and bottom edges run parallel, while the left and right edges are not parallel to each other. Only that one set of opposite sides is parallel. This sets it apart from shapes with two pairs of parallel sides, like parallelograms and rhombuses, where both the top/bottom and left/right sides are parallel, and from a generic quadrilateral that might have no parallel sides at all. So the shape with exactly one pair of parallel sides is the trapezoid.

Having exactly one pair of parallel sides defines a trapezoid. In this four-sided figure, the top and bottom edges run parallel, while the left and right edges are not parallel to each other. Only that one set of opposite sides is parallel. This sets it apart from shapes with two pairs of parallel sides, like parallelograms and rhombuses, where both the top/bottom and left/right sides are parallel, and from a generic quadrilateral that might have no parallel sides at all. So the shape with exactly one pair of parallel sides is the trapezoid.

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