Exploring Symmetry
Back to school...
Below you can see a point A that was reflected at the line in order to create its image A'. Task 1 Drag point A with the mouse along the outline of the flower. Write down your observations. Hint: Press the button Delete Trace in order to delete the trace and start over.
Task 2 How many axes of symmetry does this flower have? Hint: Drag the green points in order to change the position of the line of reflection. Then, repeat step 1 for every position of the line.
Instructions
Learn how to recreate the figure used above to explore the concept of symmetry.
| 1. | Make sure that you have the picture of the yellow flower saved on your computer before you start with the actual construction. | |
| 2. | 
| Create a new point A. |
| 3. |  | Construct a line of reflection through two new points. |
| 4. |  | Mirror point A at the line to get its image A’. |
| 5. |  | Create a segment between point A and its image A’. |
| 6. |  | Turn the Trace on for points A and A′.
Note: Whenever point A is moved, it leaves a trace in the  Graphics View.
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| 7. |  | Drag point A to draw a trace.
Hint: The menu item Refresh Views in the  View Menu clears all trace.
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Try it yourself...
Instructions (continued)
Learn how to recreate the figure used above to explore the concept of symmetry.
| 8. |  | Insert the image of the yellow flower into the Graphics View.
Hint: Click in the lower left corner of the Graphics View to insert the picture at this position. |
| 9. | | Adjust the position of the inserted image using the Move tool. |
| 10. |  | Set the image as Background Image using tab Basic of the the  Properties Dialog ( Style Bar). |
| 11. | | Reduce the Opacity of the image using tab Color of the Properties Dialog ( Style Bar).
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| Hint: After specifying the picture as a background image you can’t select it in the Graphics View any more. Check out the options for background images for more information. |