Skip over navigation
Cambridge University Faculty of Mathematics NRich logo
menu search
  • Teachers expand_more
    • Early years
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
    • Events
    • Professional development
  • Students expand_more
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
  • Parents expand_more
    • Early Years
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Post-16
  • Problem-Solving Schools
  • About NRICH expand_more
    • About us
    • Impact stories
    • Support us
    • Our funders
    • Contact us
  • search

Or search by topic

Number and algebra

  • The Number System and Place Value
  • Calculations and Numerical Methods
  • Fractions, Decimals, Percentages, Ratio and Proportion
  • Properties of Numbers
  • Patterns, Sequences and Structure
  • Algebraic expressions, equations and formulae
  • Coordinates, Functions and Graphs

Geometry and measure

  • Angles, Polygons, and Geometrical Proof
  • 3D Geometry, Shape and Space
  • Measuring and calculating with units
  • Transformations and constructions
  • Pythagoras and Trigonometry
  • Vectors and Matrices

Probability and statistics

  • Handling, Processing and Representing Data
  • Probability

Working mathematically

  • Thinking mathematically
  • Developing positive attitudes
  • Cross-curricular contexts

Advanced mathematics

  • Decision Mathematics and Combinatorics
  • Advanced Probability and Statistics
  • Mechanics
  • Calculus

For younger learners

  • Early Years Foundation Stage

Symmetry Challenge

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow starYellow star
Primary curriculum
  • Problem
  • Getting Started
  • Student Solutions
  • Teachers' Resources

Christina from Marborough Primary, London has given this one some thought and made the sensible suggestion of trying to find all the symmetrical patterns with one coloured square, then with two squares, then three, then four. That's just what Tom has done below.

Tom was very careful in trying to make sure that he found them all. First, he looked for patterns with no coloured squares. Of course, there's only one of those:

No shaded squares

Then he looked for patterns with one coloured square. Here are the patterns he found:

Top left square shadedTop centre square shadedCentre square shaded
Next he looked for patterns with two coloured squares. He had to be a bit more careful here, to make sure that he didn't miss any. First of all, he coloured in the top left square. Then he wondered whether he could find any patterns with this square coloured where the line of symmetry was vertical. He found this one:
Top left and top right squares shaded

but that was the only one. Then he looked for patterns with this square coloured where the line of symmetry was horizontal, but he came up with the same one again (rotated, of course). Then he looked for ones where the line of symmetry was diagonal. Here are the two patterns he found:

Top left and centre squares shadedTop left and bottom right squares shaded

These were the only symmetrical patterns with a corner square shaded. Next he shaded the top centre square and looked for patterns with a vertical line of symmetry. Here's what he found:

Centre top and centre squares shadedCentre top and centre bottom squares shaded

He noticed that he wouldn't get any new patterns by looking for ones with horizontal lines of symmetry, so he looked for patterns with a diagonal line of symmetry. This is the only one he found:

Middle left and top centre squares shaded
He used a similar system to find the symmetrical patterns with three or four shaded squares. Here's what he found:
Top row shadedTop left, top right and centre squares shadedTop left, top right and bottom centre squares shadedTop left, top right and bottom right squares shadedTop left, centre and bottom right squares shadedTop left, top centre and middle left squares shadedTop left, middle right and bottom centre squares shadedTop centre, middle right and bottom centre squares shadedMiddle column shadedTop centre, centre and middle right squares shaded
Top row and bottom centre square shadedTop row and bottom centre square shadedTop left, top right, centre and bottom centre squares shadedTop left, top right, middle left and middle right squares shaded Top left, top right, bottom left and bottom right squares shaded Top left, top centre, middle left and middle centre squares shaded Top left, top centre, middle left and bottom right squares shaded Top left, top right, centre and bottom left squares shadedTop left, centre, middle right and bottom centre squares shaded Top left, top centre, middle right and bottom right squares shaded Top centre, middle left, middle right and bottom centre squares shaded
Finally, Tom noticed that really these told him all of the symmetrical patterns, because he could imagine a coloured grid where the white squares were the ones that had been shaded, and these would give the patterns with five, six, seven, eight or nine shaded squares.
So Tom found 62 symmetrical patterns in all.
 
Children from Kellett School in Hong Kong, noticed that Tom had missed out one of the patterns. Here is the image they sent:
 
 
 
So that makes a total of 64 possible solutions. 

Thank you for your all your ideas everyone.

You may also like

Polydron

This activity investigates how you might make squares and pentominoes from Polydron.

Eight Dominoes

Using the 8 dominoes make a square where each of the columns and rows adds up to 8

Prime Magic

Place the numbers 1, 2, 3,..., 9 one on each square of a 3 by 3 grid so that all the rows and columns add up to a prime number. How many different solutions can you find?

  • Tech help
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Sign up to our newsletter
  • Twitter X logo

The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

University of Cambridge logo NRICH logo