Math: Lines of Symmetry
Finding matching halves in shapes and pictures
Math: Lines of Symmetry
Finding matching halves in shapes and pictures
Math - Grade 2-3
- 1
Look at the square. Draw one line of symmetry through the square.
Fold the square in your mind so the two halves match exactly.
A correct line of symmetry can go straight up and down, straight across, or from one corner to the opposite corner. Each of these lines makes two matching halves. - 2
How many lines of symmetry does a rectangle have if it is not a square?
A rectangle that is not a square has 2 lines of symmetry. One line goes through the middle from top to bottom, and one line goes through the middle from left to right. - 3
A heart shape is split by a line from top to bottom. Does this line show symmetry? Explain your answer.
Check whether one side could fold onto the other side.
Yes, the line shows symmetry because the left half and the right half of the heart match. - 4
Circle the shape that has a line of symmetry: a regular triangle, a messy blob, or the letter F.
The regular triangle has a line of symmetry. It can be divided into two matching halves. - 5
Draw a line of symmetry on a circle.
Make sure the line passes through the center of the circle.
A correct line of symmetry can go through the center of the circle in any direction. The line must divide the circle into two matching halves. - 6
Does a sideways arrow pointing right have a horizontal line of symmetry, a vertical line of symmetry, both, or neither?
A sideways arrow pointing right has a horizontal line of symmetry. The top half and bottom half match, but the left half and right half do not match. - 7
Look at the butterfly. Draw the line of symmetry.
Butterflies usually have matching wings on the left and right sides.
The line of symmetry goes down the middle of the butterfly's body. It divides the left wing and right wing into matching halves. - 8
A shape has two equal halves when folded along a line. What is that line called?
That line is called a line of symmetry because it divides the shape into two matching halves. - 9
How many lines of symmetry does a square have?
Think about folding the square side to side, top to bottom, and corner to corner.
A square has 4 lines of symmetry. It has one vertical line, one horizontal line, and two diagonal lines. - 10
Look at the block capital letter A. Does it have a vertical line of symmetry?
Yes, a block capital letter A has a vertical line of symmetry when both sides are drawn the same. - 11
Look at the block capital letter L. Does it have a line of symmetry? Explain your answer.
Try folding it in your mind from top to bottom or side to side.
No, a block capital letter L does not have a line of symmetry because it cannot be divided into two matching halves. - 12
Draw the other half of the shape so the dashed line is a line of symmetry.
Copy each corner and edge the same distance from the dashed line on the other side.
The missing half should be a mirror image of the given half. Each part on one side of the dashed line should match a part on the other side. - 13
Which line is a line of symmetry for an oval: a line through the center from top to bottom, a line near the edge, or a line outside the oval?
A line through the center from top to bottom is a line of symmetry for the oval. It divides the oval into two matching halves. - 14
Mia draws a star with all points the same size. She draws a line from the top point through the center to the bottom space. Is this a line of symmetry?
Check whether the points on the left match the points on the right.
Yes, the line is a line of symmetry if it divides the star into two matching halves. - 15
Explain in your own words how to tell if a line is a line of symmetry.
A line is a line of symmetry if it divides a shape into two parts that match exactly. If the shape were folded on the line, both halves would fit on top of each other.