IGCSEMathsCambridge (CIE)International MathsCoreRevision NotesGeometrySymmetry & ShapesRotational Symmetry

Rotational Symmetry (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE International Maths)

Revision Note

Jamie Wood

Expertise

Maths

Cambridge (CIE) International Maths: CoreEdexcel Maths A (Modular): Higher Unit 2Cambridge (CIE) International Maths: Extended

Rotational Symmetry

What is the order of rotational symmetry?

  • Rotational symmetry refers to the number of times a shape looks the same as it is rotated 360° about its centre

  • This number is called the order of rotational symmetry

  • Tracing paper can help work out the order of rotational symmetry

    • Draw an arrow on the tracing paper so you can easily tell when you have turned it through 360°

finding the order of rotational symmetry using tracing paper
finding the order of rotational symmetry using tracing paper 2
finding the order of rotational symmetry using tracing paper 3

  • Notice that returning to the original shape contributes 1 to the order

    • This means a shape can never have order 0

    • A shape with rotational symmetry order 1 may be described as not having any rotational symmetry

    • The only time it looks the same is when you get back to the start

Exam Tip

Remember to use the trick above; using an upwards arrow on the tracing paper to show the starting orientation of the shape.

Worked Example

For the shape below, shade exactly 4 more squares so that the shape has rotational symmetry of order 4.

3-1-line-and-rotation-symmetry-we

The shape below appears the same 4 times if rotated through 360 degrees

3-1-1-rotation-symmetry-we-answer

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    Jamie Wood

    Author: Jamie Wood

    Jamie graduated in 2014 from the University of Bristol with a degree in Electronic and Communications Engineering. He has worked as a teacher for 8 years, in secondary schools and in further education; teaching GCSE and A Level. He is passionate about helping students fulfil their potential through easy-to-use resources and high-quality questions and solutions.