Finding Lines of Symmetry in a Rectangle (Examples) - BYJUS

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

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What is the Line of Symmetry in a Rectangle?

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.

 

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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.

How many Lines of Symmetry does a Rectangle have?

 

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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.

Rapid Recall

 

 

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Solved Examples

Example 1: Examine whether line 1 and line 2 marked in the figure are lines of symmetry. Explain your answer.

 

 

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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?

 

 

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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.

 

 

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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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.