Maths help

asvc1297 · Post by **asvc1297** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 1:38 pm

Hi

can anyone advise where you can find out the order of rotation of a square?

tks!

dadofkent · Post by **dadofkent** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:51 pm

Visualise a square. That is its first order. Rotate it about its mid-point until it arrives back at the start position. Each time it it looks the same as the start position, that is another order of rotation. Therefore, the order of rotation is 4.

I think.

Guest55 · Post by **Guest55** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:15 pm

Yes it is order 4 - you rotate 360 degrees and count the number of matches - it's a good idea to mark the start point to help you count!

A rectangle is of order 2.

A kite is order 0 or order 1 depending on the definition ....

dadofkent · Post by **dadofkent** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:48 pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks3bitesiz ... ry_3.shtml

Above may help. I do find the rule of defining a a shape with no rotational symmetry as order 0 unhelpful. It is, in my opinion, inconsistent with the remainder of order definitions.

Guest55 · Post by **Guest55** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:46 pm

Some books say order 1 so it is confusing!