Home / United States / Math Classes / 4th Grade Math / Lines of Symmetry in a Rectangle
A line of symmetry is defined as the fold line that divides a shape into two equal parts that match exactly and are the same. A shape can have different types of symmetry, such as mirror symmetry, linear symmetry, and so on. In the following article, we will learn about the lines of symmetry in a rectangle....Read MoreRead Less
A line that divides a rectangle into two equal parts that are mirror images of each other is known as the line of symmetry in a rectangle.
Here, the rectangular shape can be folded about two lines in such a way that the two parts match exactly with each other. So, we can say that a rectangle has lines of symmetry.
A rectangle has 2 lines of symmetry. One line is drawn through the center along the width and the other is drawn along the length, and hence, we get 2 lines of symmetry.
Therefore, by doing so we can get four matching and equal shapes.
Example 1: Examine whether line 1 and line 2 marked in the figure are lines of symmetry. Explain your answer.
Solution:
The given shape is a rectangle. When the rectangle is folded along line 1, half of the part formed does not cover the other half completely.
Similarly, the line 2 doesn’t divide the rectangle in two parts that are mirror images of each other.
Therefore, we can say that the line 1 and line 2 are not the lines of symmetry for the given rectangle.
Example 2: George wants to divide the tennis court into multiple sections using the lines of symmetry. 4 players are there on the court with an equal number of players in each section. How many players are there in each section?
Solution:
Number of players on the tennis court = 4
Since, the tennis court is in rectangular shape.
So, number of sections = 2
Therefore, number of players in each section = \(\frac{4}{2}\) = 2
Hence, there are two players in each section.
Example 3: Determine whether the given line is a line of symmetry or not.
Solution:
When the rectangle is folded about the line in the image, both the parts formed do not cover each other completely.
So, both the parts are not a mirror image of each other.
Therefore, in the given rectangle the line drawn on it is not a line of symmetry.
A rectangle is defined as a polygon, having opposite sides that are equal in length and each internal angle is equal to 90 degree.
Line of symmetry is defined as a fold line that divides a shape into two equal parts that match exactly.
A line which divides a rectangle into two parts that are mirror images of each other is known as the line of symmetry in a rectangle.
In a square, all four sides are equal in length but in a rectangle, the opposite sides are equal in length.
A rectangular shape has two lines of symmetry.