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Using circles and symmetry , show that if a convex (non-crossed) quadrilateral has two pairs of opposite sides of same length, then it is a parallelogram.

I try to show this fondamental property about parallelogram using circles, symmetry and "relative position principles".

It is the same thing to show that the quadrilateral $ABCD$ has its pairs of opposite sides parallels.

My idea was to start with non-aligned three points $A, B$ and $C$ such that $AB \neq BC$. We also denote by $D$, the last point of the (non-crossed) quadrilateral.

In a first time, let us draw the circle $\mathcal{C}_1$ of center $A$ and radius $BC$ and then a second circle $\mathcal{C}_2$ of center C and radius $AB$. We notice that : $\mathcal{C}_1 \cap \mathcal{C}_2 \neq \emptyset$ and this intersection contains exactly two points. Let us call them $C'$ and $A'$ where $D$ is closer to $C'$ than $A'$.

In fact we need to prove that $D = C'$.

Let us eliminate the case $D = A'$. In that case, it would mean that $ABCD$ is a crossed quadrilateral and it is not possible by assumption.

Then, why $D = C'$ ? In fact, by assumptions, $BC = AD$ and $AC'$ is also a radius for $\mathcal{C}_1$. Hence $AC'=AD$. In the same way using $\mathcal{C}_2$, we have that $CC'= CD$. Hence $D = C'$.

Let us introduce $[AC]$, the diagonal of the quadrilateral $ABCD$ and consider $O$ the midpoint of $[AC]$. Now, why $(BC)$ is parallel to $(DA)$ ? By defintion $A$ is obtained from $C$ after doing an half-turn around $O$. And let us denote $C''$ the symmetric of $B$ around $O$. Using properties of the half-turn, we can deduce that $(BC)$ is parallel to $(AC'')$. It remains to show that $D = C''$.

We notice that in particular, $C'' \in \mathcal{C}(O,OB)$. Also by property of the half-turn, we have that $AC'' = AD$, hence $C'' \in \mathcal{C}_1$ and also as $CC''=CD$ we deduce that $C'' \in \mathcal{C}_2$.

Hence, $C''\in \mathcal{C}(O,OB) \cap \mathcal{C}_1 \cap \mathcal{C}_2 = \mathcal{C}(O,OB) \cap \{D\}$. It remains to show that $\mathcal{C}(O,OB) \cap \{D\} = \{D\}$. Why is this last intersection could not be empty ?

Are the ideas of this proof correct ? Thank you in advance !

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  • $\begingroup$ The body of the question should be able to stand on it's own. I.e. the title should not be part of the question. Once it has drawn attention to the question, it's job is done. $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 28, 2025 at 16:04
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    $\begingroup$ Do you have any diagram for this proof? $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 28, 2025 at 16:53
  • $\begingroup$ @JahraaKabirRose update $\endgroup$ Commented Feb 28, 2025 at 19:48

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Consider two triangles formed by sides of quadrilateral and one of its diagonals, we know that these two triangles have same lengths of their sides - diagonal and one side out of each of the two pairs of equal sides of quadrilateral. It means that one of these triangles is either a rotational copy of another by 180 degrees around middle of diagonal, or it is symmetrical to another with respect to diagonal. If it is symmetrical, all sides of quadrilateral are equal because it implies that sides neighboring end points of diagonal are equal and in quadrilateral opposite sides are equal, it means that quadrilateral is rhombus and parallelogram. In case when one of triangles is rotational copy of another, opposite sides of quadrilateral form same angles with diagonal and thus are parallel and quadrilateral is parallelogram.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you for the answer. However it did not really use circles the way I meant, mainly symmetry $\endgroup$ Commented Mar 8, 2025 at 21:26

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