A reflection creates a mirror image of a shape, as if you held it up to a mirror.

1. Horizontal reflection (flip left-right)  2. Vertical reflection (flip top-bottom)

What are the two main types of reflection?

Imagine a mirror placed vertically to the right of the shape. The reflection shows what you'd see in that mirror.

How can you visualise a horizontal reflection?

Imagine a mirror placed horizontally below the shape. The reflection shows what you'd see in that mirror.

How can you visualise a vertical reflection?

If "b" is reflected horizontally (left-right), what does it become?

If "b" is reflected vertically (top-bottom), what does it become?

If "p" is reflected horizontally, what does it become?

1. The shape  2. The size  3. The shading  4. All internal details

Only the ORIENTATION changes - the shape is flipped/reversed along the mirror line.

What happens if you reflect a shape twice over the same line?

A reflection over a diagonal line (usually 45°), combining aspects of both horizontal and vertical flips.

Rotation is when a shape turns around a fixed point (usually its centre).

45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, 315°, 360°

Turning in the same direction as clock hands: right and down from the top.

Turning in the opposite direction to clock hands: left and down from the top.

An arrow points UP. After 90° clockwise rotation, where does it point?

An arrow points RIGHT. After 90° anticlockwise rotation, where does it point?

An arrow points DOWN. After 180° rotation, where does it point?

An arrow points LEFT. After 270° clockwise rotation, where does it point?

90° clockwise is the same as how many degrees anticlockwise?

1. The shape  2. The size  3. The shading pattern  4. Distance from the centre

After how many 90° rotations does a shape return to its original position?

After how many 45° rotations does a shape return to its original position?

Reflection: creates a mirror image (reversed). Rotation: the shape is the same, just turned.

How do you tell if a shape has been reflected or rotated?

Reflection reverses the shape (mirror image). 180° rotation keeps the shape the same, just upside-down.

What is the key difference between reflection and 180° rotation?

Yes! A shape might be both rotated AND reflected.

1. Pick a distinctive feature (a corner, marking, or asymmetric part)  2. Track where it moves  3. Determine if it's flipped (reflection) or just turned (rotation)

How do you identify the transformation in a question?

Imagine folding the paper along the mirror line. The shape should land exactly on its reflection.

What's a useful trick for reflection questions?

A line of symmetry is a mirror line. If a shape is reflected over its line of symmetry, it looks the same.

Circles and regular shapes (when rotated by the right amount). A circle looks identical after ANY rotation.

What shapes look the same after any rotation?

Master mirror images, flips, and turning shapes

Reflections & Rotations

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