How_To_Be_Good_At_Math

256 GEOMETRY •^ REFLECTIVE SYMMETRY

Reflective symmetry

A shape has reflective symmetry if you can draw a line

through it, dividing it into two identical halves that would fit

exactly onto each other.

Two lines of symmetry

This shape has both a

horizontal and a vertical line

of symmetry.

Horizontal line of symmetry

On this shape, the top and

bottom halves are mirror images

of each other.

1 2

Four lines of symmetry

This clover shape has one

vertical, one horizontal, and two

diagonal lines of symmetry.

How many lines of

symmetry?

A symmetrical shape can have

one, two, or lots of lines of

symmetry. A circle has an

unlimited number!

Horizontal line of

symmetry

Each line of symmetry

is numbered

Vertical line

of symmetry

Lines of symmetry

can be diagonal

One vertical line of symmetry

This butterfly shape has only one line

of symmetry. The shape is exactly the

same on each side of the line. If you

drew a line anywhere else on the shape,

the two sides wouldn’t be the same.

1 1

2

3

4

A line of symmetry is

also called an axis

of symmetry or

mirror line.

1

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