Lesson 10.

5
Name
Line Symmetry Geometry—
Essential Question How can you check if a shape has line symmetry? 4.G.A.3
MATHEMATICAL PRACTICES
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the Problem
Problem
One type of symmetry found in geometric shapes
is line symmetry. This sign is in the hills above
Hollywood, California. Do any of the letters in the
Hollywood sign show line symmetry?
A shape has line symmetry if it can be folded about
a line so that its two parts match exactly.
A fold line, or a line of symmetry, divides a shape
into two parts that are the same size and shape.

Activity Explore line symmetry.

Materials ■ pattern blocks ■ scissors
A vertical line goes up

→
←
A Does the letter W have line symmetry? and down.

STEP 1 Use pattern blocks to STEP 2 Trace the letter. A horizontal line goes ←
→
left and right.
make the letter W.
A diagonal line goes

→
←
through vertices of a
polygon that are not →
←
next to each other. It
can go up and down
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and left and right.

STEP 3 Cut out the tracing. STEP 4 Fold the tracing over a
vertical line.

Think: The two parts of the

folded W match exactly. The
fold line is a line of symmetry.

Math MATHEMATICAL PRACTICES 3

Talk
Apply How can you check
to see if a shape has line
So, the letter W __ line symmetry. symmetry?

Chapter 10 575
 B Does the letter L have line symmetry?

STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3

Use pattern blocks or grid Trace the letter. Cut out the tracing.
paper to make the letter L.

STEP 4 STEP 5 STEP 6

Fold the tracing over a Then open it and fold Then open it and fold
vertical line. it horizontally. it diagonally.

Do the two parts match Do the two parts match Do the two parts match
exactly? exactly? exactly?

So, the letter L ____ line symmetry.

1. Repeat Steps 1–6 for the remaining letters in

HOLLYWOOD. Which letters have line symmetry?
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You can fold horizontally,

vertically, or diagonally to
2. Do any of the letters have more than one line of determine if the parts
symmetry? Explain. match exactly.

576
 Name

MATH
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Tell whether the parts on each side of the line match.

Is the line a line of symmetry? Write yes or no.
1. 2. 3. 4.

Tell if the blue line appears to be a line of symmetry.

Write yes or no.
5. 6. 7. 8.

Math MATHEMATICAL PRACTICES 2

Talk
Use Reasoning How can
you use paper folding to
check if a shape has line
On
On Your
Your Own
Own symmetry?

Tell if the blue line appears to be a line of symmetry.

Write yes or no.
9. 10. 11. 12.
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13. DEEPER Which best describes the symmetry in the letter I?

I
Chapter 10 • Lesson 5 577
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Problem

14. Which shape has a correctly drawn line of symmetry?

a. What do you need to find?

–

b. How can you tell if the line of symmetry is correct?–

c. Tell how you solved the problem.

WRITE M
t Show Your Work

Math

d. Circle the correct shape above.

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15.
MATHEMATICAL
PRACTICE 2
Reason Abstractly Draw a line
of symmetry in the figure shown. 16. SMARTER Evie’s birthday is
on the 18th of May. Since May is the 5th
month, Evie wrote the date as shown.
© Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

Evie says all the numbers she wrote have

line symmetry. Is she correct? Explain.

578
 Practice and Homework
Name
Lesson 10.5
Line Symmetry
COMMON CORE STANDARD—4.G.A.3
Draw and identify lines and angles, and classify
Tell if the dashed line appears to be a line of symmetry. shapes by properties of their lines and angles.
Write yes or no.
1. 2. 3. 4.

yes
__ __ __ __

Complete the design by reflecting over the line of symmetry.

5. 6.

Problem
Problem Solving
Solving

7. Kara uses the pattern at the right to make

paper dolls. The dashed line represents a
line of symmetry. A complete doll includes
the reflection of the pattern over the line
of symmetry. Complete the design to show
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what one of Kara’s paper dolls looks like.

8. WRITE Math Write a word that has line

symmetry, like the word OHIO. Draw the line(s)
of symmetry for each letter.

Chapter 10 579
 TEST
Lesson Check (4.G.A.3)
PREP
1. What word best describes the line of 2. Does the shape below show a correct line of
symmetry in the letter D? symmetry? Explain.

Spiral Review (4.NBT.B.5, 4.NBT.B.6, 4.NF.A.2, 4.NF.B.4c)

3. The class has 360 unit cubes in a bag. 4. There are 5,280 feet in one mile. How many
Johnnie divides the unit cubes equally feet are there in 6 miles?
among 8 groups. How many unit cubes will
each group get?

5. Sue has 4 pieces of wood. The lengths 6. Alice has 1_5 as many miniature cars as
of her pieces of wood are 1_3 foot, 2_5 foot, Sylvester has. Sylvester has 35 miniature
__
3 foot, and 1_ foot. Which piece of wood is cars. How many miniature cars does
10 4 © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

the shortest? Alice have?

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