Reflection and Symmetry

Line symmetry and the mirror reflection are naturally related and linked to each other.

Look at the picture showing the reflection of English letter L.

The object and its image are symmetrical with reference to the mirror line. If the paper is folded, the mirror line becomes the line of symmetry. We then say that the image is the reflection of the object in the mirror line. It can be seen that when an object is reflected, there is no change in the lengths and angles, i.e., the lengths and angles of the object and the corresponding lengths and angles of the image are the same. However, there is a difference between the object and the image.

Solved Examples on Reflection and Symmetry:

1. Draw the reflection of the following shapes taking the dotted line as the mirror line or the line of symmetry.

Solution:

REMEMBER:

✍️ If a line divides a given figure into two identical halves, then we say that the given figure is symmetrical about that line and the line is called the axis of symmetry or line of symmetry.
✍️ Some figures have one line of symmetry, some have two lines of symmetry and some have more than two lines of symmetry. Some figures have no lines of symmetry.
✍️ The line of symmetry is closely related to mirror reflection. While dealing with mirror reflection we have to take into account, the left right changes in orientation.

Worksheet on Reflection and Symmetry:

1. In each figure given below, a letter of the alphabet is shown along with a horizontal line. Take the mirror image of the letter in the given line. Find which letters look the same after reflection, i.e., which letters look the same in the image, and which do not. Can you guess why?

2. Draw the reflections of each of the following figures along the given mirror lines (dotted lines):

7th Grade Math Problems

8th Grade Math Practice

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