CONTENTS The concept of line symmetry is closely related to

mirror reflection.
 Introduction

 Line Symmetry

 Line of Symmetry in Regular Polygons

 Rotational Symmetry

Reflectional symmetry of a figure is always about Note :

a line called the line or axis of symmetry. There is
another form of symmetry called rotational If one half completely covers the other, we say
symmetry. Symmetry abounds in many naturally that the line is the line of symmetry otherwise not.
occurring objects for example, if we start from
our body we can see our hands (length), legs EXAMPLES 
(length) with evenly balanced proportion, we say, Ex.1 Let PQRS be a kite in which PQ = PS and
‘‘they are symmetrical’’. Other naturally QR = SR.
occurring objects involving the concept of
symmetry are : The flowers, the tree leaves etc. In Then kite PQRS is symmetrical about
the field of engineering, concept of symmetry is diagonal PR.
used, in making cars, buses etc.

A figure has a line symmetry if there is a

line about which the figure may be folded so
that the two parts of the figure will coincide.
All objects and all alphabets below figure have
line symmetry.
Ex.2 A rectangle has two lines of symmetry, each
one of which is the line joining the mid point
of opposite sides.
Ex.3 A semicircle has one line of symmetry,
Ex.7 A rhombus is symmetrical about each of its
namely the perpendicular bisector of diameter
diagonals.
PQ.

Ex.4 A circle is symmetrical about each one of its

diameters.

 Regular Polygon
A closed figure bounded by straight line segments
of equal length is called a Regular Polygon. For
example, a square is a regular quadrilateral figure.

Ex.5 An equilateral triangle is symmetrical about

each one of the bisectors of its interior angles.

Let us now discuss a method of finding lines of

symmetry of a regular polygon.
1. An Equilateral Triangle
A triangle whose all sides are of same length
and each of its angles measures 60°, is called
an equilateral triangle shown in figure.

Ex.6 A square has 4 lines of symmetry, namely the

diagonals and lines joining the mid-points of
its opposite sides.

2. A Square
 We have already discussed that a square is
also a regular polygon because its all sides are
of equal length and each of its angles is a
right angle (of measure 90°) as in figure.

3. A Regular Pentagon
A figure bounded by five sides of equal
length is called a regular pentagon. Each
angle of a regular pentagon is 108°.

there are three lines of symmetry for an

equilateral triangle.
Draw a square on a tracing paper.

4. A Regular Hexagon
A figure bounded by six sides of equal length
is called a regular hexagon. Each of its angle
measures 120°.

Trace an equilateral triangle on a tracing paper

and find its lines of symmetry by folding.
A square has four lines of symmetry.
Note :
(1) We can also find the line of symmetry of a
figure by putting a mirror. When the half part
of a figure becomes same as its mirror image,
we call the line along with mirror as the line
of symmetry.
(2) In mirror reflection, the orientation of the
figure changes into left-right orientation as
shown in figure
 Some figures appear to be in the same position
when rotated through half turn (180°) about a
fixed point, they are said to have point symmetry.

Note :
1. A square has line symmetry as well as
rotational symmetry.
2. An equilateral triangle has rotational
symmetry as well as line symmetry
3. A full rotation does not mean that a figure has
rotational symmetry as every shape could fit
exactly into itself after a full rotation.
If a shape can fit exactly into itself after a certain
rotation (not a full one) about a fixed point (called  Order of Rotational Symmetry
centre of rotation) then it is said to have rotational The number of times a shape fits onto itself in one
symmetry. complete turn is called the order of rotational
The angle of turning during rotation is called the symmetry.
angle of rotation. or
For example, a square has a rotational symmetry. Thus, we say that the order of the rotational
symmetry of a figure with a point marked (say P),
is the number of rotations about a fixed point
required to bring back the marked point P to its
original position.
For example, an equilateral triangle has rotational
symmetry of order 3 as there are three positions
where it appears not to have moved.
Note :
The figures which do not have rotational
symmetry are said to have rotational symmetry of
order 1.
 Direction of Rotation
The body moving in the direction of hands of
clock is said to have clockwise rotation and if it
moves in reverse direction of hands of clock is
said to have anticlock rotation.
Thus, we can find the order of rotation of a figure
by dividing 360° by the measure of the angle
rotated by the original figure when it looks just
the same as before.
For example, for an equilateral triangle ABC,
when it is rotated about point X, will take the
same shape after a rotation of angle 120° as in
figure.
 Point Symmetry
Thus, order of rotational symmetry = .
 Note that we found the same order when we lines, when the original figure and the traced
rotated figure copy again look just the same.
We find that the measure of the angle is 120°.
i.e., we get the same figure after a rotation of
120° – 60° = (60°) about X.
And this will happen six times upto a
complete rotation.
Therefore, the order of rotational symmetry
Ex.8 Find the order of rotational symmetry about of the figure about point X is 6.
point X of the following figure:
Also, angle of a complete rotation = 360°
Angle after first overlapping of the original
figure and the traced copy = 60°

and Rotational order.

Note :
Some shapes have both lines (line symmetry &
Rotational symmetry)
Eg.
Sol. Draw a dotted line passing through the point X.
Make a copy of the figure on a tracing paper.
Put the traced copy on the figure and pin up
by a thumb-tack at point X.
Rotate the figure (clockwise or
anticlockwise). Stop when the traced copy
completely overlaps the original figure first
time during rotation.
Now put a protractor with its zero at X and
measure the angle formed by the dotted lines
(one line on the figure and other on the traced
copy).
We find that the measure of the angle thus
formed is 60° as shown in

Fig. Line Number of Rotational Order of

No. Symmetry Lines of Symmetry Rotationa
Symmetry l
Symmetr
y
(i) Yes 1 Yes 1
(ii) Yes 2 Yes 2
Similarly, again rotate about X and measure
the angle formed between the two dotted (iii) Yes 4 Yes 4
(iv) No 0 Yes 2

IMPORTANT POINTS TO BE REMEMBERED

1. A figure is said to have line symmetry if there is
at least one line about which when the figure is
6. In a complete turn, the number of times an object
folded, the two parts of the figure coincide.
looks exactly the same is called the order of
2. A polygon having equal sides and equal angles is rotational symmetry.
called a regular polygon.
7. Some figures have only one line symmetry, some
3. A regular polygon has as many lines of symmetry have only rotational symmetry and some have
as it has sides. both.
4. Each regular polygon has as many lines of 8. Every object has a rotational symmetry of order 1,
symmetry as it has sides as it occupies same position after a rotation of
Number of lines of 360° (one complete revolution).
Regular Polygon
Symmetry
Regular hexagon 6
Regular pentagon 5
Square 4
Equilateral triangle 3

5. If, after a rotation, an object looks exactly the

same, we say that it has a rotational symmetry.
 EXERCISE

Q.1 Which of the following have reflection (iii) (iv)

symmetry? Also find the lines of symmetry, if
any.

(i) (ii)
(v) (vi)

(iii) (iv)
Q.4 Give any 5 examples of shapes with no line
of symmetry.

(v) Q.5 Find the number of lines of symmetry for the

following :
(i) A circle
Q.2 Draw all lines of symmetry in the following (ii) A square
figures : (iii) A rhombus
(iv) An equilateral triangle
(v) An isosceles triangle
(i) (ii) (vi) A rectangle
(vii) A parallelogram
(viii) A regular octagon.
(iii) (iv)
Q.6 Two symmetrical figures are given in each of
the following. State which of them are
reflection and which are rotation.

(i) (ii)
Q.3 Take paper sheets and a punching machine.
Fold and punch so as to obtain each of the
following figures. Then find the axis of
symmetry for each of the following :

(i) (ii)
 (iii) (iv)

(iii) (iv)

(v)

(v)

Q.9 Write down the order of rotational symmetry

(vi) and also the number of lines of symmetry
(where possible)

(i) (ii)

Q.7 Which of the following figures have

rotational symmetry of order more than 1

(iii) (iv)
(i) (ii)

Q.10 Make up three shapes that have rotational

symmetry only. Give the order of

(iii) (iv)
(i) (ii)

Q.8 Find the order of rotational symmetry of the (iii) (iv)

following.

(i) (ii)

(v)
 (vi)

(v) (vi)

(vii) (viii)

Q.11 Which of the following shapes have :

(a) rotational symmetry of order greater than 1.
(b) line symmetry
(c) both the rotational symmetry of order
greater than 1 and the line symmetry.
(ix)

(i) (ii)

Q.12 Can we have a rotational symmetry of order

more than 1 whose angle of rotation is :
(i) 45°
(ii) 17°

Q.13 Name the quadrilateral which have both line

(iii) (iv)
and rotational symmetry of order more than 1.
 ANSWER KEY
1. Reflection symmetry : (ii), (iii) & (iv) ; Line symmetry : (i), (ii), (iii), (v)

5. (i) Infinite lines (ii) Four lines (iii) Two lines (iv) Three lines (v) One line (vi) Two lines
(vii) No line of symmetry in case of parallelogram (viii) Eight lines

6. (i) Rotation (ii) Reflection (iii) Reflection (iv) Rotation (v) Rotation (vi) Rotation

7. (i) Order 4 (ii) Order 3 (iv) Order 6

8. (i) 2 (ii) 1 (iii) 8 (iv) 4 (v) 3

9. (i) Order = 1, Lines of symmetry = 1 (ii) Order = 5, Lines of symmetry = 3

(iii) Order = 1, Lines of symmetry = no ( B is not in symmetrical)
(iv) Order = 6, Lines of symmetry = 6

11. (a) (i) No (ii) No (iii) Yes, 4 (iv) Yes, 3 (v) Yes, 3 (vi) Yes, 2 (vii) No
(viii) Yes, 4 (ix) Yes, 2
(b) (i) No (ii) Yes, 1 (iii) Yes, 4 (iv) No (v) Yes, 3 (vi) Yes, 2 (vii) Yes, 1
(viii) Yes, 4 (ix) No
(c) (iii), (v), (vi), (viii)

12. (i) Yes (ii) No

13. Square.