JEE Exam » JEE Study Material » Mathematics » Reflection symmetry

Reflection symmetry

Reflection symmetry is a symmetry that revolves around reflections. The term "reflection symmetry" refers to when at least one line divides a figure into two halves, with one half being the mirror image of the other.

Symmetry When two parts of anything are identical, it is said to be symmetrical. Drawing a mirror line through the middle of a form and observing if both parts are identical is a good way to check for symmetry.

Translation, rotation, reflection, and glide reflection are the four basic types of symmetry. 

If you can execute a reflection, rotation, or translation on a figure and the picture remains the same, you have symmetry. When a figure can be folded back on itself along a line, it is said to have reflective symmetry. This line is referred to as the “line of symmetry.” In regular polygons, the number of symmetry lines equals the number of sides in the polygon.

Reflection symmetry summary

In everyday life, symmetrical objects such as furniture, electronics, toys, and other symmetrical objects can be found. A symmetrical item or figure is one that may be divided into two halves. A symmetry line is a line that separates objects into two congruent halves or sections. A mirror line is a term used to describe this line. Reflection symmetry’s initial half is a mirror image of its second half. Objects are allowed to have a large number of symmetric lines along which they can be partitioned symmetrically. Reflection symmetry is when a shape has one or more lines of symmetry.

Some of the most fundamental aspects of reflection symmetry are as follows:

  • One or more symmetric lines can exist in a form or figure.
  • The symmetry line’s direction is not fixed and can change.
  • Both halves are thought to be congruent and mirror reflections of each other.

How to recognizing Symmetry in reflection

The first thing to look for is that one half should be a mirror image of the other. Imagine folding a rectangle along each symmetry line, with each half exactly matching up. This is symmetry. To be called a shape with reflection symmetry, it must have at least one line of symmetry. 

Also, one of the most crucial properties of reflection symmetry is that one of the two symmetrical halves follows lateral inversion, which means that the left side appears to be the right side when you look in the mirror.

Example of Reflection Symmetry

The four lines of symmetry in a square are lines running through the midpoints of opposite sides and lines running through opposite vertices.

What are 3 lines of symmetry?

In terms of symmetry lines, despite its partition into any number of components, the symmetrical figure is a work of symmetry. The main test of symmetry is to divide a figure into two identical halves. There are some figures and shapes that can have many symmetry lines. The symmetry lines in a circle are limitless.  A triangle has three symmetry lines, whereas a rectangle and square have four symmetry lines that divide them into identical halves. 

A scalene triangle is one that has no lines of symmetry, whereas an isosceles triangle has at least one line of symmetry and an equilateral triangle has three

A line of symmetry is an imaginary line that divides an item into two halves by passing through its centre.

The equilateral triangle is divided into equal parts by the lines of symmetry. As a result, an equilateral triangle has three symmetry lines.

Conclusion

In this article we study, Symmetry with regard to a reflection is known as reflection symmetry, line symmetry, mirror symmetry, or mirror-image symmetry. Reflection symmetry is defined as a figure that does not change when it is reflected. A symmetry line/axis exists in 2D, and a symmetry plane exists in 3D.

Reflection symmetry refers to symmetry that is based on reflections. Line symmetry or mirror symmetry are other terms for reflection symmetry. It claims that if a figure is divided into two halves by at least one line, one half is the mirror image of the other half.

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the JEE Examination Preparation.

What Does Reflection Symmetry Mean?

Ans. Reflection symmetry is defined as when a shape or pattern is reflected in a line of symmetry or forms a mirror ...Read full

In mathematics, what are symmetrical figures?

Ans. Symmetrical shapes are those that, when divided into two or more equal halves, have a perfect match to their ot...Read full

What is the meaning of the reflection operation?

Ans. A reflection through a point, for example, is an involutive isometry with only one fixed point; the image of th...Read full

What Does Symmetry Reflection Look Like?

Ans. Reflection symmetry appears when a central dividing line (a mirror line) can be drawn on any shape, demonstrati...Read full

Is there Reflection Symmetry in a Square?

Ans. Yes, a square has reflection symmetry, with two lines of reflection on the sides’ midpoints and two lines...Read full