Maths · Shapes & Patterns
Match the halves
Spot lines of symmetry with mirror halves.
Practice & Master are locked until you try:
What is symmetry?
Symmetry means both sides match exactly. Imagine folding a shape in half. If both sides look the same, it has symmetry! The fold line is called the line of symmetry.
Finding the matching halves
Look at one side of the line. Now look at the other side. Do they look like mirror reflections? If yes, the line shows symmetry!
Lines of symmetry
A line of symmetry can go up and down. It can go side to side. Some shapes have more than one line of symmetry!
Testing for symmetry
Pretend you fold the shape along the line. Would the two halves match perfectly on top? Then it is a line of symmetry!
Worked examples
1. Does this heart shape have a line of symmetry down the middle?
- Look at the left side of the heart.
- Look at the right side of the heart.
- Both sides are the same shape and size.
- Yes, the heart has a line of symmetry!
2. Is this line a line of symmetry for the rectangle?
- The line goes across the middle of the rectangle.
- The top half and bottom half are the same.
- Yes, this is a line of symmetry!
3. Does this butterfly have symmetry?
- Look at the left wing and right wing.
- They are mirror images of each other.
- The line down the middle is a line of symmetry!
Try it yourself
A square has a line from top to bottom through the middle. Is this a line of symmetry?
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