Shapes, Symmetry & Tesselation

Symmetry
If a shape has a line of symmetry, the line of symmetry will divide the shape into two equal
parts, one half of which can be folded along the line of symmetry to fit exactly onto the other.
Note, a rectangle has two (not four) lines of symmetry and a circle has an infinite number.
If rotating a shape through a certain angle produces an identical shape, it has rotational
symmetry. If the shape can be rotated 4 times before returning to its original shape (e.g. a
square), it has rotational symmetry of order 4. !n equilateral triangle has rotational
symmetry of order " and a rectangle has rotational symmetry of order #.
Triangles
Isosceles triangles have two equal angles. $he sides of the triangle opposite the equal angles
are equal in length to one another.
%quilateral triangles have all of their sides and angles equal. &ince there are '() degrees in a
triangle and all the angles are equal, each angle is *) degrees.
Other Shapes
! polygon is any shape with straight sides. ! regular polygon is where all of the interior
angles are the same.
Parallelogram+ opposite sides are parallel, opposite angles are equal, the diagonals
bisect one another (this means the diagonals cross at their midpoints).
Rhombus+ (a parallelogram with all four sides of equal length), diagonals bisect one
another at right angles.
Trapezium+ ,ne pair of opposite sides are parallel.
Square+ !ll sides are equal, all angles are -) degrees, diagonals bisect one another at
-) degrees.
Rectangle+ !ll angles are -) degrees, diagonals bisect one another.
Tessellation
! shape is said to tessellate if an infinite number of that shape can be put together, leaving no
gaps. .or example, a square tessellates+
,ther shapes which tessellate include equilateral triangles and hexagons. &hapes can also
tessellate with one another, for example equilateral triangles and squares tessellate with one
another+
/ &ee more at+ http+00www.mathsrevision.net0gcse/maths/revision0shape/and/space0shapes/
symmetry/tesselation1sthash.%2v-y*x).dpuf