Rotation Symmetry
Bill Zahner
Lori Jordan
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Printed: August 21, 2012
AUTHORS
Bill Zahner
Lori Jordan
www.ck12.org
C ONCEPT
Concept 1. Rotation Symmetry
1
Rotation Symmetry
Here you’ll learn how to determine whether or not a shape has rotation symmetry.
What if you were asked to consider the presence of symmetry in nature? The starfish, below, is one example of
symmetry in nature. Draw in the center of symmetry and the angle of rotation for this starfish. After completing this
Concept, you’ll be able to answer questions like these.
Watch This
MEDIA
Click image to the left for more content.
Brightstorm:Rotational Symmetry
Guidance
Rotational Symmetry is when a figure can be rotated (less that 360◦ ) and it looks the same way it did before the
rotation. The center of rotation is the point at which the figure is rotated around such that the rotational symmetry
holds. Typically, the center of rotation is the center of the figure. Along with rotational symmetry and a center of
rotation, figures will have an angle of rotation, that tells us how many degrees we can rotate a figure so that it still
◦
looks the same. In general, if a shape can be rotated n times, the angle of rotation is 360
n . Then, multiply the angle
of rotation by 1, 2, 3..., and n to find the additional angles of rotation.
Example A
Determine if the figure below has rotational symmetry. Find the angle and how many times it can be rotated.
1
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The pentagon can be rotated 4 times and show rotational symmetry. Because there are 5 lines of rotational symmetry,
◦
◦
◦
the angle would be 360
5 = 72 . Note that the 5th rotation would be 360 and so does not count for demonstrating
rotational symmetry.
Example B
Determine if the figure below has rotational symmetry. Find the angle and how many times it can be rotated.
The N can be rotated once. The angle of rotation is 180◦ .
Example C
Determine if the figure below has rotational symmetry. Find the angle and how many times it can be rotated.
The checkerboard can be rotated 3 times. There are 4 lines of rotational symmetry, so the angle of rotation is
360◦
◦
◦
◦
4 = 90 . It can also be rotated 180 and 270 and it will still look the same.
2
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Concept 1. Rotation Symmetry
Concept Problem Revisited
The starfish has rotational symmetry of 72◦ . Therefore, the starfish can be rotated 72◦ , 144◦ , 216◦ , and 288◦ and it
will still look the same. The center of rotation is the center of the starfish.
Vocabulary
Rotational symmetry is present when a figure can be rotated (less than 360◦ ) such that it looks like it did before the
rotation. The center of rotation is the point a figure is rotated around such that the rotational symmetry holds. The
angle of rotation that tells us how many degrees we can rotate a figure so that it still looks the same. In general, if a
◦
shape can be rotated n times, the angle of rotation is 360
n .
Guided Practice
Find the angle of rotation and the number of times each figure can rotate.
1.
2.
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3.
Answers:
1. The parallelogram can be rotated twice. The angle of rotation is 180◦ .
2. The hexagon can be rotated six times. The angle of rotation is 60◦ .
3. This figure can be rotated four times. The angle of rotation is 90◦ .
Practice
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
If a figure has 3 lines of rotational symmetry, it can be rotated _______ times.
If a figure can be rotated 6 times, it has _______ lines of rotational symmetry.
If a figure can be rotated n times, it has _______ lines of rotational symmetry.
To find the angle of rotation, divide 360◦ by the total number of _____________.
Every square has an angle of rotation of _________.
Determine whether each statement is true or false.
6. Every parallelogram has rotational symmetry.
7. Every figure that has line symmetry also has rotational symmetry.
Determine whether the words below have rotation symmetry.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
OHIO
MOW
WOW
KICK
pod
Find the angle of rotation and the number of times each figure can rotate.
13.
14.
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Concept 1. Rotation Symmetry
15.
Determine if the figures below have rotation symmetry. Identify the angle of rotation.
16.
17.
18.
5