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Isabel from St Andrew's Scots School in Argentina used Geogebra to investigate the problem. This is Isabel's work, with some teacher comments.

           

  

 


Wenchi, also from St Andrew's Scots School, noticed a pattern for mirror lines that are not perpendicular:
There is a pattern when the mirror lines cross different angles. Reflecting in 2 is equal to 1 rotation by $2\theta$ about the point of intersection of the lines, where $\theta$ is the angle between the lines. 
When the lines cross at $45^\text o$, the object rotates by $90^\text o$, and when the lines cross at $60^\text o$, the object rotates $120^\text o$.

Notice that applying this rule to lines which cross at $90^\text o$ gives a rotation of $180^\text o$, as we have already seen.

Here is our explanation of the transformations required in the general case of mirror lines at any angle :

Mirror lines at angle theta


The resulting transformation is a rotation by $2\theta$ about the point of intersection of the lines. If the direction of the angle $\theta$ is from the first line of reflection to the second, then the direction of rotation is the same as the direction of $\theta$.

You should probably check that the same thing works if you reflect in the further line first (remembering that this means the direction is reversed), and if the flag is between the two lines.

We just need to check the result for a single point, because then every point will rotate by the same amount and so the flag will remain intact (and will have rotated by the same amount).

Solution

The diagram says it all, really: the line segment joining the point to the origin has rotated by an angle of $\alpha+\alpha+(\theta-\alpha)+(\theta -\alpha)=2\theta$ in the direction of $\theta$.

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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.

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