Mathematics of Symmetry

(Part 2)
Symmetric Patterns
A plane figure has symmetry if there is a non-trivial transformation that maps
the figure onto itself. A trivial transformation refers to the identity
transformation which maps every point in the plane onto itself.

Symmetry lines of a square (reflection)

Symmetric Patterns
If a figure can be rotated less than 3600 about a point so that the image and
the pre-image are indistinguishable, then the figure has rotational symmetry.
Rotational Symmetries of a square (00 /3600, 900 , 1800 , and 2700 )

The square has rotational symmetry of order 4

because there are four rotations of less than
3600 that produce an image indistinguishable
from the original. The rotational symmetry has
3600
a magnitude of 900 = .
4

Some mathematicians refer to 1800 rotational

symmetry about a point as a point symmetry.
Symmetric Patterns
Design and Pattern
A design is a figure with at least one non-trivial symmetry. A pattern is a design
that has a translation symmetry. A plane pattern has symmetry if there is an
isometry of the plane that preserves it.

Arts and mathematics intersect in the concept of symmetry. In art, symmetry is

a basic design element, something that many people consider pleasing to look
at. In mathematics, symmetry can be defined and verified by finding motions
that leave a design unchanged. These motions can be combined and analyzed
in much the same way numbers are.
Tessellations
A tessellation is a repeating pattern of figures
that completely covers a plane without gaps or
overlaps. Tessellations can be created with
translations, rotations, and reflections. They
can be found in art, nature, and everyday life.

Because the figures in a tessellation neither

leave gaps nor overlap, the sum of the
measures of the angles around any vertex
must be 3600. If the angles around a vertex are
all congruent, then the measure of each angle
must be a factor of 360.
Regular Tessellations
If tessellation is formed by only one type of regular polygon, then it is called a
regular tessellation. There are only three shapes that can form such
tessellations: equilateral triangle, square and regular hexagon. Any of these
three shapes can be replicated infinitely to fill a plane with no gaps at all. An
example is a honeycomb which have regular hexagons.
Semi-regular Tessellations
Semi-regular tessellations are made from two or more regular polygons.
Irregular Tessellations
Irregular tessellations can be formed from almost any kind of geometric shape.

Bird-fish: translation
fish: rotation

Horsemen: translation man: rotation

Tessellations
The example below shows tessellation by translation. Other transformations
require different methods.
Rosette Patterns
Rosette Patterns consist of taking a motif or element and rotating and/or
reflecting it. The two types of rosette patterns are cyclic 𝐶𝑛 and dihedral
𝐷𝑛 .

𝐶𝑛 has n-fold rotational symmetry and no reflection symmetry

𝐷𝑛 has n-fold rotational symmetry and reflection symmetry
Rosette Patterns
What type of symmetry does each figure have?

𝐶6 ; 6-fold rotation and no reflection symmetry

𝐶10 ; 10-fold rotation and no reflection symmetry

𝐷12 ; 12-fold rotation and with reflection symmetry

𝐷6 ; 6-fold rotation and with reflection symmetry

Frieze Patterns
A frieze pattern is an infinitely long strip imprinted with a design given by a
repeating motif.
I. Each (All) frieze pattern is symmetric under pqpqpqpq
a translation (T) in the direction of the strip. bdbdbdbd
II. A frieze pattern might also be symmetric pqpqpqpq
about a horizontal (H) reflection; bdbdbdbd
pqpqpqpq
III. vertical (V) reflection;
bdbdbdbd
pqpqpqpq
IV. a rotation (R) of 1800 about some point in the design; bdbdbdbd
V. a glide (G) reflection, or some collection of pqpqpqpq
these 5 basic transformations. bdbdbdbd
Frieze Patterns
What symmetries are present in the patterns below?

ppppppppp
𝑇, 𝐻 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐺 (no V nor R)
bbbbbbbbb

𝑇, 𝐻 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐺 (no V nor R)

𝑇 (no H, V, G nor R due to color)

Frieze Patterns
There are only seven (7) possible symmetry combinations for frieze patterns.

The naming convention from the International Union of Crystallography,

referred to as the IUC notation, is used to distinguish among the seven frieze
symmetry types. (Example: p111)

• These names all begin with “p” followed by three characters.

• The first character is “m” if there is V; 1 if none.
• The second character is “m” if there is a H; “a” if there is G; and 1 if
none.
• The third is 2 if there is a R; and 1 if none.

Another way of naming frieze patterns is according to John Conway’s scheme.

Frieze Patterns
Example Symmetry IUC Conway Actual Example

T p111 Hop

TG p1a1 Step

TV pm11 Sidle

TR p112 Spinning
Hop
Frieze Patterns
Example Symmetry IUC Conway Actual Example

TVRG pma2 Spinning

Sidle

THG p1m1 Jump

TVHRG pmm2 Spinning

Jump
Frieze Patterns
Identify the IUC notation for each pattern.

𝑝111

𝑝𝑚𝑚2
𝑝1𝑚1

𝑝𝑚11

𝑝112
Homework
I. Use a Graphing paper and colored pens/pencils

Given the triangle with vertices at (1,4), (4,3), and (2, -1), Answer the following:
sketch the pre-image and the image after the given
transformation is applied. Based on your graph, identify 1. (x, y) → (x, -y)
the transformation as a translation, reflection, rotation, 2. (x, y) → (2x, 2y)
or other transformations. (Using different colors will help)
3. (x, y) → (x + 4, - y)
Example:
4. (x, y) → (x + 4, y – 3)
(x, y) → (5 - x, y);
(1,4) → (4,4);
(4,3) → (1, 3);
(2, -1) → (3, -1)

Type of Transformation:
Reflection
Homework
II. In a short bond paper, create you own Irregular Tessellation by Translation with the use
of colored papers. Paste the Irregular tessellation in the short bond paper. You may use
the figure below as your guide for making an Irregular Tassellation. Be creative and do not
copy any works from the Internet. Staple the Graphing Paper for Test I and the short bond
paper for Test II. Anyone with the same design for this activity will automatically get a zero
for this homework
For Next Meeting …
Bring the following
1. Pencil
2. Ruler
3. Coin