Symmetry is observed in various everyday objects such as rangolis, masks, bead strings, and buildings. A shape or design is said to be symmetrical if it can be divided into two equal halves that match each other perfectly.
The dividing line is called the line of symmetry or mirror line (also known as the line of reflection).
An easy way to create a symmetrical pattern is through an ink design:
Folding a paper airplane involves symmetrical steps. By analyzing the folding steps, we can identify lines of symmetry in different stages of the paper plane. A plane may not fly properly if it lacks a clear line of symmetry, as asymmetry affects its balance.
Creating patterns by folding paper and making cuts is a great way to explore symmetry:
Symmetrical designs can be completed on a dot grid by mirroring the given half across the line of symmetry.
Using a mirror helps identify the line of reflection:
Different geometric shapes have different numbers of sides and lines of symmetry. Tracing and folding shapes is a practical method to find all their lines of symmetry.
A tiling pattern (or tessellation) is created by repeating a basic unit (tile) to cover a flat surface without any gaps or overlaps. Tiles can be slid, flipped, or rotated to create different designs.
We can design custom tiles using hexagonal or square grids. Joining two or more shapes can create new tiles that fit together perfectly.
A fun way to create a tiling pattern is the "cut, slide, and paste" method:
Symmetry is abundant in nature. During a nature walk, we can observe and collect symmetrical items: