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Cambridge International Examination

Ordinary Level
Beaconhouse School System
Boys Campus, Canal Side

Symmetry

Notes, examples, hints & practice sums from Cambridge Exams for (O1, O2 & O3)

Cambridge International Syllabus

Cambridge O Level Mathematics (4024 & 0580) syllabus for 2025, 2026 and 2027

Symmetry Notes and examples

1 Recognize line symmetry and order of rotational
symmetry in two dimensions.
2 Recognise symmetry properties of prisms,
cylinders, pyramids and cones.
Includes properties of triangles, quadrilaterals and
polygons directly related to their symmetries. e.g.
identify planes and axes of symmetry.

 A plane of symmetry is an imaginary plane that bisects a solid into halves that are mirror
images of each other.

1 (a) The diagram shows a rhombus.

On the diagram, draw all the lines of symmetry.

(b)

Shade two squares so that the diagram has rotational symmetry of

order 2.

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(c) Write down the order of rotational symmetry of the followings.

(i) (ii) (iii)

An Octagon

____________ _______ __________

(iv) (v) (vi)

Equilateral triangle

____________ __________________ _______________

(a) Write down the order of rotational symmetry of this diagram

(b) On the diagram, draw all the lines of symmetry.

3 (a) Complete this statement.

The diagram has rotational symmetry of order ...................

(b) On the diagram, draw all the lines of symmetry.

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4 (a)

Shade two more small squares to give a pattern

with exactly one line of symmetry

(b) Complete the description of this pattern.

The pattern has .............................. lines of symmetry

and order of rotational symmetry ..........................

(a) Shade one more small triangle in the shape to make a pattern with one
line of symmetry

(b) Shade two more small triangles in the shape below to make a pattern
with rotational symmetry of order 2.

6 (a)

(a) The diagram shows part of a figure that has AB as its line of
Symmetry, Complete the figure.

Answer

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(b) In the diagram, six small squares are shaded.

Shade two more small squares so that the completed diagram

has rotational symmetry of order 4.

7 (a) The diagram shows a circle, its centre and two chords of equal length.

The diagram has one line of symmetry.

Draw this line of symmetry

(b)

In the diagram, two small triangles are shaded

Shade one more small triangle to give a diagram that has rotational symmetry of order 3.

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(c)

From the word above, write down

(a) all the letters which have line symmetry ___________________________________

(b) all the letters which have rotational symmetry. _______________________________

(a) Write down the order of rotational symmetry of this shape.

(b) Samuel describes a special quadrilateral.

It has only one line of symmetry.
Its diagonals cross at right angles.
Write down the name of this special quadrilateral.

___________________________________________________

9 Complete the description of the symmetry for each shape.

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10

(a) Shade one more small square so the (b) Shade two more small squares so the
diagram has rotational symmetry of order 4. diagram has 2 lines of symmetry

11 (a) Complete the pattern so that AB is the only line of symmetry

(b) A hexagon has rotational symmetry of order 6.

The perimeter of the hexagon is 30 cm.
Draw a sketch of the hexagon labelling the lengths of the sides.

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12 The diagram shows a triangular prism. The cross-section is a right-angled isosceles triangle.

(a) Write down the number of planes of symmetry of the prism.

(b) Work out the volume of the prism.

13 (a)Write down the number of lines of symmetry of this diagram.

(b) Write down the order of rotational symmetry of this diagram given below.

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14 Sam has six square tiles labelled A, B, C, D, E and F.

When Sam places tiles E and F side by side the resulting rectangle has no lines of symmetry and no
rotational symmetry.

Write down the two tiles that Sam should place side by side to make a rectangle that has
(a) one line of symmetry only,

(b) rotational symmetry of order 2.

15

(a) The diagram shows part of a shape which is (b) The diagram shows part of a shape which has
symmetrical about the line L. rotational symmetry of order 2 about the point O.
Complete the shape. Complete the shape.

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15 Plane Symmetry: A plane of symmetry divides a three dimensional shape in to two congruent halves that

are mirror image of each other.

A cuboid has three planes of symmetry.

 A square based prism has 5 plane of symmetry.

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 A cube has 9 plane of symmetry.

 An isosceles triangular based prism has 2 plane of symmetry.

 An equilateral triangular based prism has four planes of symmetry.

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 A rectangular bases pyramid has two planes of symmetry.

 A square based pyramid has 4 planes of symmetry.

 A regular tetrahedron has 6 planes of symmetry.

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 Planes of symmetry of different shapes.

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