The Symmetry of Capital Letters


We then investigated all the letters of the alphabet for symmetry and found that:
                   - some have no lines of symmetry
                   - some have one line of symmetry
                   - some have two lines of symmetry
                   - one letter has many lines of symmetry
                   - most letters do not have rotational symmetry
                   - a few have rotational symmetry of order two
                   - and O is in a category of its own.
 
    Letters
Line Symmetry
Number
Rotational symmetry
Number
No
0
Yes
2
No
0
Yes
2
Yes
2
Yes
2
Yes
Infinite
Yes
Infinite
Yes
1
No
0
No
0
Yes
2
Yes
1
No
0

As far as X goes we argued a lot about whether it has 2 lines of symmetry or 4. Eventually we decided to test it.
 
We typed several Xs using different computer fonts, enlarged them on the photocopier, cut them out and folded them. What do you think we found? Why not try it yourself.

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