IDENTIFYING SYMMETRY OF 2D SHAPE

A 2D SHAPE MAY HAVE LINE SYMMETRY AND IT MAY HAVE

ROTATIONAL SYMMETRY

IDENTIFYING SYMMETRY OF 2D SHAPES

THIS RECTANGLE HAS TWO LINES OF SYMMETRY. ONE OF THE LINES OF SYMMETRY IS HORIZONTAL, THE
OTHER VERTICAL.

YOU CAN USE DASHED LINES TO SHOW LINES OF SYMMETRY ON A SHAPE IF YOU FOLD A SHAPE ALONG ITS LINE OF SYMMETRY, ONE HALF OF THE SHAPE WILL FIT EXACTLY ON TOP
OF THE OTHER HALF.

THIS RECTANGLE ALSO HAS ROTATIONAL SYMMETRY OF ORDER 2. THE ORDER OF ROTATIONAL SYMMETRY
IS THE NUMBER OF TIMES A SHAPE LOOKS THE SAME AS IT IS ROTATED THROUGH ON FULL TURN

EXAMPLE
For each of this shape write down: I. The number of lines of symmetry. II. The order of rational symmetry.

A. I. 2 LINES OF SYMMETRY.
A
B

B. I. NO LINES OF SYMMETRY.

II. ORDER 2 ROTATIONAL SYMMETRY.

II. ORDER 2 ROTATIONAL SYMMETRY.

SOLUTION
A.
I. THIS SHAPE HAS TWO DIAGONAL LINES OF SYMMETRY

II. IN ONE FULL TURN THE SHAPE WILL LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME TWICE, ONCE AFTER ROTATING IT 1800 AND AGAIN AFTER 3600.

B.

I. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DRAW ANY LINES SYMMETRY ONTO THIS PARALLELOGRAM II. IN ONE FULL TURN THE PARALLELOGRAM WILL LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME TWICE, ONCE AFTER ROTATING 1800 AND AGAIN AFTER 360O

EXERCISE
Square
SHAPE

Rectangle

Rhombus

Paralellogram

Kite

Trapezium

Number of lines of symmetry

Order of rotational symmetry