Symmetry Our mind is constnatly trying to make sense of information. Our mind automatically looks for patterns. The world around us is based on symmetry, because objects that are symmetrical contain patterns. A line of symmetry divides a figure in half so that both halves are exactly the same. The pieces will be mirror images. The pieces will be congruent. It is thought by some scientists that the human mind uses symmetry to help it see things i.e. since an object has symmetry then maybe we don't have to look at the whole thing to know what we are looking at. Symmetry in Architecture Symmetry in Nature Symmetry in Snowflakes Equilateral Triangle 3 Lines of Symmetry Square 4 Lines of Symmetry Pentagon 5 Lines of Symmetry Octagon 3 Lines of Symmetry Hexagon 6 Lines of Symmetry Armenia Symmetry in Flags of the World The Bahamas Canada India Armenia Symmetry in Flags of the World The Bahamas Canada India Flags of the World WITHOUT Symmetry United States Zambia Trinidad and Tobago South Africa Transformations Translation Slide Reflection Flip Rotation Turn A rotation is a transformation in which the object is rotated about a fixed point. The direction of rotation can be clockwise or counterclockwise. Rotation (turn) Rotational Symmetry To translate a shape, you can move it up or down or from side to side, but do not change its appearance in any other way. When a shape is translated, each of the vertices (corners) must be moved in exactly the same way. Translation (slide) Translational Symmetry In a reflection transformation all the points of an object are reflected or flipped on a line called the axis of reflection or line of reflection. This transformation creates a mirror image. Reflection (flip) Reflectional Symmetry