Mather Nature

A Focus on Symmetry in Nature

Music: “Emptiness” by Blu May available under Creative Commons license.

The mathematical sciences particularly exhibit order, symmetry,

and limitation; and these are the greatest forms of the beautiful.

-Aristotle

Two Types of

Symmetry

Bilateral Symmetry

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Rotational Symmetry

Symmetry in which a shape can be folded along an imaginary line (axis of symmetry) so that

opposite sides of the shape match

Bilateral Symmetry

Also called reflectional symmetry

Bilateral Symmetry

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Bilateral Symmetry

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Symmetry in which a shape can be rotated around its center point so that it looks like its

original self

Rotational Symmetry

Also called radial symmetry

Rotational Symmetry

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Rotational Symmetry

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Review thetwo basic types of symmetry:

Bilateral Symmetry• Symmetry in which a shape

can be folded along an imaginary line (axis of symmetry) so that opposite sides of the shape match

• Also called reflectional symmetry

• Examples include insects, animals, reflections in ponds

Rotational Symmetry• Symmetry in which a shape

can be rotated around its center point so that it looks like its original self

• Also called radial symmetry• Examples include

snowflakes, flowers, starfish