Finding the Pieces – 5
A trapezoid is a four-sided figure that has exactly one pair of parallel sides (parallel lines in a surface are lines that never meet). The figure on the left can be broken into three pieces which are triangles. It can also be broken into two trapezoids.
THE CHALLENGE
For each of these two figures, find a way to break the figure into as few triangles as
possible. Also find a way to break each figure into as few trapezoids as possible.
EXPLORATION
Are there other ways to break these two figures into triangles or trapezoids in as few pieces?
Notes
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THE CHALLENGE & EXPLORATION
One example of breaking up the two figures into triangles and trapezoids is given below. There are other possible choices for how to do it, so be sure to talk about all the different possibilities that everyone finds.
