Kite

Pronunciation: /kaɪt/ Explain

Click on the blue points and drag them to change the figure.

Manipulative 1 - Kite Created with GeoGebra.

A kite is a quadrilateral with two sets of adjacent, congruent sides.

Properties of a Kite

  • All kites are quadrilaterals.
  • The area of a kite is A=(1/2)pq where p is the length of one diagonal and q is the length of the other diagonal. See manipulative 1.
  • The diagonals of a kite are perpendicular.
  • Opposite vertices of a kite are congruent.
  • An incircle can be inscribed into any convex kite.
  • One of the diagonals of a convex kite divides the kite into two isosceles triangles. The other diagonal of a convex kite divides the kite into two congruent triangles.

Construction of the Incircle of a Kite

StepDiagramDescription
1Kite with vertices labeled A, B, C, and D with A opposite B and C opposite D.Start with a convex kite.
2Kite from step 1 with the angle bisector of ACB.Construct the angular bisector of one of the angles connecting congruent sides.
3Kite from step 2 with the angle bisector of CBD.Construct the angular bisector of one of the angles connecting non-congruent sides.
4Kite from step 3 with intersection of the angle bisectors labeled 'O'.Label the intersection of bisectors from steps 2 and 3 as O.
5Kite from step 4 with a line through 'O' perpendicular to BD.Construct a line through O perpendicular to one of the sides.
6Kite from step 5 with the intersection of the perpendicular line and BC labeled 'P'.Label the intersection of the line constructed in step 5 with the side to which it is perpendicular as P.
7Kite from step 6 with a circle with center O and radius OP.Construct a circle with center O and radius OP.
Table 1

Geometric Figure Made with Kites

ImageDescription
Deltoidal trihexagon tiling: Divide hexagons into six kites by drawing segments from the midpoint of each side to the center of the hexagon. Tile the hexagons so that three hexagons share each vertex. This tessellation using kites is called a deltoidal trihexagonal tiling. To construct this tessellation, divide each hexagon into six kites by drawing a segment from the midpoint of each side to the center. Then tesselate the divided hexagon so that three hexagons share each vertex.
A spinning deltoidal icositetrahedron.gif. A deltoidal icositetrahedron is a polyhedron whose faces are kites. Click to print a net of a deltoidal icositetrahedron to cut out and paste together.
A spinning deltoidal hexecontahedron. A deltoidal hexecontrahedron is a polyhedron whose faces are kites.

References

  1. McAdams, David E.. All Math Words Dictionary, kite. 2nd Classroom edition 20150108-4799968. pg 105. Life is a Story Problem LLC. January 8, 2015. Buy the book

More Information

  • McAdams, David E.. Kite. lifeisastoryproblem.com. Life is a Story Problem LLC. 8/7/2018. http://www.lifeisastoryproblem.com/explore/kite.html.

Cite this article as:

McAdams, David E. Kite. 12/21/2018. All Math Words Encyclopedia. Life is a Story Problem LLC. http://www.allmathwords.org/en/k/kite.html.

Image Credits

Revision History

12/21/2018: Reviewed and corrected IPA pronunication. (McAdams, David E.)
8/29/2018: Corrected spelling. (McAdams, David E.)
8/7/2018: Removed broken links, updated license, implemented new markup, implemented new Geogebra protocol. (McAdams, David E.)
3/4/2010: Added "References", Geometric figure made from kites. (McAdams, David E.)
12/13/2008: Added vocabulary links, properties of a kite, and construction of the incircle of a kite. (McAdams, David E.)
9/16/2008: Initial version. (McAdams, David E.)

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