Which statement about parallelograms and trapezoids is true?

Which statement about parallelograms and trapezoids is true?

• A. A parallelogram is a trapezoid
• B. A trapezoid is a parallelogram
• C. They are disjoint categories
• D. A parallelogram is never a trapezoid

Answer: (A)

Relation between parallelograms and trapezoids hinges on how a trapezoid is defined. A parallelogram has two pairs of parallel opposite sides. If a trapezoid is defined as having at least one pair of parallel sides, then a parallelogram satisfies that condition and is a trapezoid as well. So the statement is true because the parallelogram fits the broader trapezoid definition. Some textbooks use the stricter idea that a trapezoid has exactly one pair of parallel sides; under that view, a parallelogram would not be a trapezoid, but the inclusive definition commonly used in many contexts makes this relationship correct.

Relation between parallelograms and trapezoids hinges on how a trapezoid is defined. A parallelogram has two pairs of parallel opposite sides. If a trapezoid is defined as having at least one pair of parallel sides, then a parallelogram satisfies that condition and is a trapezoid as well. So the statement is true because the parallelogram fits the broader trapezoid definition. Some textbooks use the stricter idea that a trapezoid has exactly one pair of parallel sides; under that view, a parallelogram would not be a trapezoid, but the inclusive definition commonly used in many contexts makes this relationship correct.