Geometric Plane Shapes: Circles, Triangles, Rectangles ... - Smartick

What are geometric plane shapes? What characteristics do they have? These are the questions that we will answer in this post.

The principal geometric plane shapes are:

The Circle

Geometric Plane Shapes

The circle is a shape that can be made by tracing a curve that is always the same distance from a point that we call the center. The distance around a circle is called the circumference of the circle.

The Triangle

Geometric Plane Shapes

The triangle is a shape that is formed by 3 straight lines that are called sides. There are different ways of classifying triangles, according to their sides or angles.

  1. According to their angles:
  • Right triangle: the largest of the 3 angles is a right angle.
  • Acute Triangle: the largest of the 3 angles is an acute angle (less than 90 degrees).
  • Obtuse Triangle: the largest of the 3 angles is an obtuse angle (more than 90 degrees).

2. According to their sides:

  • Equilateral Triangle: all 3 sides are the same length.
  • Isosceles Triangle: it has 2 (or more) sides that are of equal length. (An equilateral triangle is also isosceles.)
  • Scalene Triangle: no 2 sides are of equal measure.

The Rectangle

Geometric Plane Shapes

The rectangle is a shape that has 4 sides. The distinguishing characteristic of a rectangle is that all 4 angles measure 90 degrees.

The Rhombus 

Geometric Plane Shapes

The rhombus is a shape formed by 4 straight lines. Its 4 sides measure the same length but, unlike the rectangle, any of all 4 angles measure 90 degrees.

The Square

Geometric Plane Shapes

The square is a type of rectangle, but also a type of rhombus. It has characteristics of both of these. That is to say, all 4 angles are right angles, and all 4 sides are equal in length.

The Trapezoid

Geometric Plane Shapes

The trapezoid also has 4 sides. It has two sides that are parallel but the other 2 are not.

You can practice with the geometric plane shapes by registering in Smartick.

Learn More:

  • Learn Everything About Triangles: Characteristics, Types and Classification
  • Geometric Shapes with Examples
  • Discover Geometric Figures Found in Our Environment
  • Geometry and 2D Shapes with the Help of a Tangram
  • Perimeter: What Is It and How to Find It for Any Polygon
Fun is our brain’s favorite way of learningDiane AckermanSmartick is a fun way to learn math
  • 15 fun minutes a day
  • Adapts to your child’s level
  • Millions of students since 2009
Start your 7-day free trialShare on FacebookTweet about this on TwitterShare on LinkedIn
  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Smartick SmartickContent Creation Team.A multidisciplinary and multicultural team made up of mathematicians, teachers, professors and other education professionals! They strive to create the best math content possible. Smartick Latest posts by Smartick (see all)
  • Protractor: What it is and How to Use It - 12/18/2025
  • Attention Games: The Key to Fostering Sustained Concentration in Children - 01/31/2025
  • Mathematical Formulas: What Are They, How Are They Made and Types of Formulas? - 11/29/2024

Tag » What Are The Plane Shapes