AI generatedGeometry and measuresKS3 / GCSE

Order of rotational symmetry

Order of rotational symmetry.

  • A reflection line splits a shape into matching mirror halves.
  • Rotational order counts matches during one full turn, including the starting orientation.
  • For a regular -sided polygon, both symmetry counts are .

Example 1

The polygon is regular. Find its order of rotational symmetry and its smallest positive rotation.

Regular polygonDiagram not to scale
Smallest rotationDivide one full turn by the number of matching positions.
Order 3; smallest rotation 120°.

Example 2

The polygon is regular. Find its order of rotational symmetry and its smallest positive rotation.

Regular polygonDiagram not to scale
Smallest rotationDivide one full turn by the number of matching positions.
Order 4; smallest rotation 90°.

Your turn

Question 1

The polygon is regular. Find its order of rotational symmetry and its smallest positive rotation.

Regular polygonDiagram not to scale
Check answer
Smallest rotationDivide one full turn by the number of matching positions.
Order 5; smallest rotation 72°.
Question 2

The polygon is regular. Find its order of rotational symmetry and its smallest positive rotation.

Regular polygonDiagram not to scale
Check answer
Smallest rotationDivide one full turn by the number of matching positions.
Order 6; smallest rotation 60°.
Question 3

The polygon is regular. Find its order of rotational symmetry and its smallest positive rotation.

Regular polygonDiagram not to scale
Check answer
Smallest rotationDivide one full turn by the number of matching positions.
Order 8; smallest rotation 45°.
Question 4

The polygon is regular. Find its order of rotational symmetry and its smallest positive rotation.

Regular polygonDiagram not to scale
Check answer
Smallest rotationDivide one full turn by the number of matching positions.
Order 10; smallest rotation 36°.
Question 5

The polygon is regular. Find its order of rotational symmetry and its smallest positive rotation.

Regular polygonDiagram not to scale
Check answer
Smallest rotationDivide one full turn by the number of matching positions.
Order 12; smallest rotation 30°.