Line Symmetry

If a shape folds perfectly in half along a line, that line is an axis of symmetry

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About This Practice

Fold a piece of paper, cut a shape, and open it up โ€” you get a symmetric figure. But how do you count how many axes of symmetry a shape has? Spin the dashed axis on screen and watch whether the mirrored half lands exactly on the shape: every direction that matches counts as one. With regular polygons you will discover a rule โ€” as many axes as sides.

Drag the axis of symmetry to fold one half over the other, count how many directions match exactly, and discover the rule for regular polygons.

MediumEstimated Time: 12minline symmetryaxis of symmetryfoldingshapes

How to Play

  1. Look at the shape and the dashed axis: drag the axis to spin it.
  2. At some direction the mirrored half lights up on the shape โ€” found one!
  3. Keep rotating to find every matching direction, and count them.
  4. Pick the total number of axes; a correct answer draws them all.
  5. Try the regular polygons and check the as-many-axes-as-sides rule.

Learning Objectives

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