How to Calculate the Area of a Kite
A kite is a specific type of quadrilateral defined by having two pairs of equal-length sides that are adjacent to each other. Unlike a parallelogram, where opposite sides are equal, the kite’s equal sides “meet” at two of the vertices.
Method 1: Using Diagonals
If you know the lengths of the two diagonals (the lines connecting opposite corners), the calculation is straightforward. In a kite, the diagonals always cross at a 90-degree angle.
The formula is: Area = (Diagonal 1 * Diagonal 2) / 2
Method 2: Using Sides and Angles
If you have the lengths of the two unequal sides and the angle where they meet, you can use trigonometry to find the area. This is particularly useful when the internal diagonals are difficult to measure.
The formula is: Area = Side A * Side B * sin(Angle)
Determining the Perimeter
The perimeter is the total distance around the outside of the shape. Because a kite has two pairs of equal sides, you simply add the two unique side lengths together and multiply by two.
The formula is: Perimeter = 2 * (Side A + Side B)
Unique Properties of Kites
- The diagonals are perpendicular to each other.
- One diagonal acts as a line of symmetry, bisecting the kite into two congruent triangles.
- One diagonal bisects the other diagonal at a right angle.
- If all four sides of a kite are equal, the shape is classified as a rhombus.