difference between a rhombus and a square

Difference Between a Rhombus and a Square

When it comes to discussing geometric shapes, two of the most common two-dimensional figures are squares and rhombuses. Although they may appear to be similar at first glance, there are actually several key differences between the two shapes.

Table of Contents

Shape and Definition

A square is a four-sided polygon that has four equal sides and four right angles. Each side of a square is perpendicular to the adjacent sides, creating a shape that is symmetrical and balanced. In other words, a square is a special type of rectangle with two adjacent sides of equal length.

On the other hand, a rhombus is also a four-sided polygon, but its sides are not necessarily equal in length. However, all four sides of a rhombus are equal in length, and all four angles are equal (i.e., diagonals bisect each other). Part of the reason why the rhombus is often confused with the square is that a rhombus can also be considered a type of square, specifically one that is tilted at an angle.

Properties and Attributes

One of the most noticeable differences between a square and a rhombus is their symmetry. A square is a highly symmetrical shape, with each side and each angle being exactly the same. A rhombus, on the other hand, has a lower degree of symmetry, as its sides and angles are not always the same.

Another key difference between the two shapes is their perimeter and area. Because a square has four sides of equal length, its perimeter (the total length of all sides) is simply four times the length of one of its sides. The area of a square is also easy to calculate, as it is simply the product of its length and width.

In contrast, because a rhombus may have two sets of unequal sides, its perimeter can be harder to calculate. To find the perimeter, you must add up the length of all four sides. Similarly, the area of a rhombus is calculated by multiplying its length and height, which can be harder to find than a square’s length and width.

Conclusion

In summary, while both squares and rhombuses are four-sided polygons, they have several differences in terms of their shape, properties, and attributes. Squares are highly symmetrical, with four equal sides and four right angles, whereas rhombuses have four equal sides but not necessarily equal angles. While they may appear similar from a distance, a closer examination reveals that they are, in fact, two distinct shapes with unique characteristics.

Table difference between a rhombus and a square

Shapes	Definition	Properties	Differences
Rhombus	A four-sided polygon with opposite sides parallel and all four sides equal in length.	Two opposite angles are acute, and two other opposite angles are obtuse. The diagonals bisect each other at right angles. The diagonals divide the rhombus into four congruent right-angled triangles. The area of a rhombus is given by the formula: Area = (diagonal1 x diagonal2) / 2.	A rhombus is not necessarily a square because:
			The angles of a rhombus are not all right angles. Its sides are equal but not necessarily perpendicular. The diagonals of a rhombus are not equal in length. A rhombus can be a parallelogram with opposite sides parallel and equal in length, but not all parallelograms are rhombuses. A rhombus can be a kite, which has two pairs of adjacent sides that are equal in length, but not all kites are rhombuses.
Square	A four-sided quadrilateral with all four sides equal in length and all four angles equal to 90 degrees.	The diagonals are equal in length and bisect each other at right angles. All sides are perpendicular to corresponding sides. The area of a square is given by the formula: Area = (side x side).	A square is a special type of rhombus because:
			All sides of a square are equal in length, just like a rhombus. All angles of a square are right angles, just like a rectangle. The diagonals of a square are equal in length and bisect each other at right angles, just like in a rhombus. A square is a regular polygon with equal sides and equal angles.