Definition of Symmetry

Symmetry comes from a Greek word meaning 'to measure together' and is widely used in the study of
geometry. Mathematically, symmetry means that one shape becomes exactly like another when you
move it in some way: turn, flip or slide. For two objects to be symmetrical, they must be the same size
and shape, with one object having a different orientation from the first. There can also be symmetry in
one object, such as a face. If you draw a line of symmetry down the center of your face, you can see
that the left side is a mirror image of the right side. Not all objects have symmetry; if an object is not
symmetrical, it is called asymmetric.
When working with symmetry, the initial image is called the pre-image, and the second image is called
the image because it is the final step in the process. Just like the answer to a math problem is the final
step in that process, the image is what is created when you rotate something 90 degrees or flip it about
the x-axis. There are three basic types of symmetry: rotational symmetry, reflection symmetry and
point symmetry.
Properties of Line of Symmetry?
The axis or line of symmetry is an imaginary line that runs through the center of a line or shape
creating two perfectly identical halves. In higher level mathematics, you will be asked to find the axis
of symmetry of a parabola.
This is a parabola, a u-shaped line on the graph. If we find the exact center on the parabola's curve and
draw an imaginary vertical line through the shape, splitting it exactly through the center, then we have
two perfect halves of a parabola. Each side of this line is a perfect match. This is the line of symmetry
for the parabola.
Line of Symmetry
In geometry, student's learn about different geometrical shapes, their construction and questions
related to calculation on them. There may be a line of symmetry in shapes irrespective of its being
geometrical or non geometrical.

The line of symmetry is a line segment that is drawn in between a diagram in order to make the
diagram equally divided in two. The line of symmetry divides a picture into two parts so that one
forms a mirror image of the other. In other words, the images on the other side of the line of symmetry,
must be the reflection of each other. Line of symmetry may also be defined as the line segment along
which when the image is folded one side over the other, the upper folded area fully covers the lower
folded area. Line of symmetry may be a horizontal or a perpendicular line.
The shapes that have a line of symmetry are known as "symmetrical", while those which do not
possess any kind of line of symmetry, are termed as "asymmetrical".
A line is parallel to the horizontal plane that is known as a horizontal line of symmetry. The line of
symmetry is perpendicular to the horizontal plane that is called as a vertical line of symmetry.
What is a Line of Symmetry?
The line of symmetry is the imaginary line where we divide a figure into two halves that are the mirror
images of each other. That is, they are dividing the picture exactly into 2 equal parts. Those 2 parts are
equal in size and similar to another part. Let us see about the number of lines of symmetry with their
pictures in this article.
The scalene triangle figure has 0 lines of symmetry.
The Parallelogram object has 0 lines of symmetry.
The Trapezoid objects have 0 lines of symmetry.
The Isosceles triangle objects have 1 lines of symmetry. Isosceles triangle has vertical lines of
symmetry.
The ellipse shape has two lines of symmetry. Ellipse has 1 vertical lines of symmetry also 1 horizontal
lines of symmetry.

The rectangle object has two lines of symmetry. Rectangle shape has 1 vertical lines of symmetry also
1 horizontal lines of symmetry.

The cylinder shape has two lines of symmetry. Cylinder shape has 1 vertical lines of symmetry also 1
horizontal lines of symmetry.
The equilateral triangle has 3 lines of symmetry. One is vertical lines other 2 is remaining corners. It
has no horizontal symmetry.
The square shape has 4 lines of symmetry. Square has 1 vertical 1 horizontal lines of symmetry and
other two is corners.
The regular pentagon has 5 lines of symmetry. It has 1 vertical line other 4 is remaining corners. It
has no horizontal symmetry.
The circle shapes have an infinite number of lines of symmetry.
The rectangle objects have two lines of symmetry. First from the center of one of the shorter sides to
the center of the other short side. The second from the center of one of the longer sides to the center of
the other longer side. Diagonals are not lines of symmetry.
The square shape has 4 lines of symmetry. Square has 1 vertical 1 horizontal lines of symmetry and
other two is corners. At first we take the figure on a plane paper and then fold the paper so the
identical part of figure overlap on each-other. Which line divide the figure in two identical part that is
known as line of symmetry.
A regular hexagon has six lines of symmetry and one point of symmetry. one line is vertical and 1
line is horizontal. The last 4 lines are connected angle to the middle of a side across from the angle.
An octagon is an eight sided polygon. A regular octagon has eight lines of symmetry and one point of
symmetry. It has 1 vertical and 1 horizontal symmetric line. The last 6 lines are connected angle to the
middle of a side across from the angle.
Rhombus: A rhombus has two lines of symmetry - the two diagonals of the rhombus. The figure is as
follows:
Kite: A kite has a single line of symmetry, as shown in the figure below: