MEP: Demonstration Project Y8B, Unit 15

UNIT 15 Polygons Activities

Activities

15.1 Rotational and Line Symmetry

15.2 Lines of Symmetry
15.3 Symmetry of Regular Polygons
15.4 Special Quadrilaterals
15.5 Transforming Polygons
Notes and Solutions (3 pages)

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MEP: Demonstration Project Y8B, Unit 15

ACTIVITY 15.1 Rotational and Line Symmetry

1. For each polygon below,

(a) use dotted lines to show the lines of symmetry, if any;
(b) check whether it has rotational symmetry and if so, state its order;
(c) mark the centre of rotational symmetry with a cross.

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

Order Order Order Order

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

Order Order Order Order

2. Use the results from Question 1 to complete the following table:

Name of Number of Lines Order of Rotational

Polygon of Symmetry Symmetry

(i) Isosceles triangle

(ii) Equilateral triangle

(iii) Rectangle

(iv) Square

(v) Parallelogram

(vi) Rhombus

(vii) Kite

(viii) Trapezium

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MEP: Demonstration Project Y8B, Unit 15

ACTIVITY 15.2 Lines of Symmetry

Each of the 3 × 3 squares below has 3 shaded squares and one line of symmetry.

1. How many more ways can you find to shade 3 squares in a 3 × 3 square so that there
is only one line of symmetry? Record your patterns.

2. (a) In a 3 × 3 square, find a pattern of 3 shaded squares which has 2 lines of

symmetry.

(b) Is it the only one? If not, try to find all such patterns.

3. Using a 3 × 3 square, find all the possible patterns of 4 shaded squares which have:

(a) one line of symmetry (b) two lines of symmetry,

(c) three lines of symmetry, (d) four lines of symmetry.

Extension
Do a similar study for a 4 × 4 square with different patterns of:
(a) 3 shaded squares, (b) 4 shaded squares,
(c) 5 shaded squares, (d) 6 shaded squares.

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MEP: Demonstration Project Y8B, Unit 15

ACTIVITY 15.3 Symmetry of Regular Polygons

1. For each of the following regular polygons, draw in the lines of symmetry and locate
the centre of rotational symmetry.

2. Use your answers to Question 1 to complete the following table:

Name of Number of Number of Lines Order of Rotational

Polygon Sides of Symmetry Symmetry

Hexagon

Octagon

Nonagon

Decagon

3. Use the completed table in Question 2 to find:

(a) the number of lines of symmetry, and

(b) the order of rotational symmetry for:

(i) a regular 10-gon, (ii) a regular 20-gon, (iii) a regular n-gon.

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MEP: Demonstration Project Y8B, Unit 15

ACTIVITY 15.4 Special Quadrilaterals

Complete the table below to identify the properties of these special quadrilaterals:

Parallelogram Rectangle Square

Rhombus Kite Trapezium

Property

All sides equal

Opposite sides equal

Opposite sides parallel

Opposite angles equal

Diagonals equal

Diagonals bisect each other

Diagonals intersect at right angles

Longer diagonal bisects shorter

diagonal

Two pairs of adjacent sides equal but

not all sides equal

Only one pair of opposite sides parallel

Only one pair of opposite angles equal

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MEP: Demonstration Project Y8B, Unit 15

ACTIVITY 15.5 Transforming Polygons

The American mathematician David Hilbert (1862-1942) was the first person to prove that
any polygon can be transformed into any other polygon of equal
area by cutting it into a finite number of pieces and rearranging.
Unfortunately, the proof of this result does not tell you how to do it – just that it can be
done!
We will first look at some easy examples and then show how any equilateral triangle can
be made into a square of the same area.
1. How can an equilateral triangle be transformed
into a rectangle, which has one of its sides equal
⇒
to the height of the triangle?

2. How can an equilateral triangle be transformed ⇒

into a rectangle which has one of its sides equal
to the length of side of the triangle?

3. How can an equilateral triangle be transformed

into a parallelogram with a height equal to half ⇒
the length of a side of the triangle?

These problems are all quite straightforward in their construction. A much more difficult
problem is to transform an equilateral triangle into a square of the same area.

4. Cut out the pieces shown below and check that you can make both an equilateral
triangle and a square from them. The pieces must all be kept the same way up.

Extension
Starting with an equilateral triangle, and by making suitable cuttings, see what shapes you
can make.

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MEP: Demonstration Project Y8B, Unit 15

ACTIVITY 15.1 Notes for Solutions

Notes and solutions given only where appropriate.

15.1 1. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

Order 1 Order 3 Order 2 Order 4

(v) (vi) (vii) (viii)

Order 2 Order 2 Order 1 Order 1

2.
Name of Number of Lines Order of Rotational
Polygon of Symmetry Symmetry

(i) Isosceles triangle 1 1

(ii) Equilateral triangle 3 3

(iii) Rectangle 2 2

(iv) Square 4 4

(v) Parallelogram 0 2

(vi) Rhombus 2 2

(vii) Kite 1 1

(viii) Trapezium 0 1

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MEP: Demonstration Project Y8B, Unit 15

ACTIVITIES 15.2 - 15.4 Notes for Solutions

15.2 1. 32 Each of these patterns can be

be rotated to give 4 different
squares with only one line
of symmetry.

2. 4 possibilities: or , or

3. (a) 10 basic designs: (b) none

(c) none
(d) or

Name of Number of Number of Lines Order of Rotational

15.3 Polygon Sides of Symmetry Symmetry

Hexagon 6 6 6

Octagon 8 8 8

Nonagon 9 9 9

Decagon 10 10 10

Property
15.4
All sides equal ✕ ✕ ✓ ✓ ✕ ✕

Opposite sides equal ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✕ ✕

Opposite sides parallel ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✕ ✕

Opposite angles equal ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✕ ✕

Diagonals equal ✕ ✓ ✓ ✕ ✕ ✕

Diagonals bisect each other ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✕ ✕

Diagonals intersect at right angles ✕ ✕ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✕

Longer diagonal bisects shorter

diagonal ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✕

Two pairs of adjacent sides equal but

not all sides equal ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✓ ✕

Only one pair of opposite sides parallel ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✓

Only one pair of opposite angles equal ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✓ ✕

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MEP: Demonstration Project Y8B, Unit 15

ACTIVITY 15.5 Notes for Solutions

15.5 1. 2. 3.
⇒ ⇒ ⇒

4. B

A C

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