What is a rhombus?

A rhombus is accurately defined as a parallelogram with four equal sides. This characteristic sets the rhombus apart from other types of quadrilaterals, such as rectangles and ordinary parallelograms, which may have equal opposite sides but do not necessarily have all sides of equal length.

In addition to having equal sides, a rhombus also possesses the property that its opposite angles are equal and its adjacent angles are supplementary. This means that the angles of the rhombus together contribute to forming angles that total 360 degrees, just like any quadrilateral. The diagonals of a rhombus intersect at right angles and bisect each other, which is another distinguishing feature that contributes to its identity as a unique geometric shape.

Understanding the specific properties of a rhombus is crucial in geometry, as it helps in categorizing different shapes and understanding their relationships. The notion of a shape being a parallelogram emphasizes that a rhombus has the parallel sides characteristic essential for identifying it within the broader family of quadrilaterals.