Symmetry Drawing Studio
Draw on one side and watch it mirror instantly — left–right, top–bottom, or 4, 6 and 8-way kaleidoscope patterns. Then practise by completing the missing half of a shape and get a symmetry score.
A line of symmetry divides a figure into two halves that match exactly when it is folded along that line. A square has 4 lines of symmetry, a rectangle 2, an equilateral triangle 3 and a circle infinitely many. Draw on one side of this canvas and the other side mirrors itself instantly.
Symmetry
How many copies of each stroke?
Complete the other half
The left half is drawn. Draw the right half so the shape is symmetrical about the red dashed line.
Brush
Background
Art that teaches symmetry
A shape is symmetrical when one part is the mirror image of another. Drawing it yourself is the fastest way to feel what a line of symmetry does.
Choose a mirror mode
Left–right, top–bottom, or 4, 6 and 8-way patterns. The dashed lines show the mirrors.
Pick a brush
Choose a size and colour, or switch on the rainbow brush. The eraser mirrors too.
Draw on one side
Use a mouse, finger or stylus. Undo any stroke and change the background any time.
Practise and save
Complete the missing half of a shape to get a score, then download your art as PNG.
Line of symmetry
A line that divides a figure into two halves that match exactly when folded. Fold a paper butterfly along its body and both wings meet.
Square: 4 lines · rectangle: 2 · equilateral triangle: 3 · circle: infinitely many · letters A, H, M, T, U have a vertical line of symmetry.
Rotational symmetry
A shape has rotational symmetry if it looks the same after turning it less than a full turn. The number of times it fits in one full turn is its order.
Square: order 4 · equilateral triangle: order 3 · the 8-way mode here makes order-8 patterns.
Symmetry around us
Rangoli, the Taj Mahal, leaves, snowflakes (6-way), starfish (5-way) and many national emblems are symmetrical. Try drawing a rangoli in 8-way mode on a black background.
Symmetry Drawing Studio — your questions
What is a line of symmetry?
A line of symmetry is a line that cuts a figure into two halves which fit exactly on top of each other when the shape is folded along it. A paper butterfly folded down its body is the classic example — the two wings land perfectly on each other.
How many lines of symmetry does a square have?
A square has 4 lines of symmetry: two through the middle of opposite sides and two along its diagonals. A rectangle has only 2, because its diagonals are not lines of symmetry even though they look like they should be. An equilateral triangle has 3, a regular pentagon 5, a regular hexagon 6, and a circle has infinitely many.
Which letters of the alphabet are symmetrical?
A, H, I, M, O, T, U, V, W, X and Y have a vertical line of symmetry. B, C, D, E, H, I, K, O and X have a horizontal one. H, I, O and X have both. Letters such as F, G, J, L, N, P, Q, R, S and Z have none.
What is rotational symmetry?
A shape has rotational symmetry if it looks exactly the same after being turned by less than a full circle. The number of positions in which it matches during one complete turn is its order. A square has order 4, an equilateral triangle order 3, and the 8-way mode here makes order-8 patterns.
How do I complete the other half of a symmetrical figure?
Find the mirror line first, then count squares. For each point on the drawn half, count how many squares it sits from the line and mark a point the same distance on the other side. Join the new points in the same order. The practice mode here scores how close your half is to a perfect mirror.
Where do we see symmetry in everyday life?
Rangoli patterns, the Taj Mahal, leaves, butterflies, snowflakes with their 6-way symmetry, starfish with 5-way and many national emblems are all symmetrical. Human faces are very nearly symmetrical too. Try drawing a rangoli in 8-way mode on a dark background to see how a whole pattern grows from a single stroke.