Activity Overview
Students explore a special subset of the transformations of a square called the symmetry group. They also find inverses of each transformation in the symmetry group. They then delve deeper into the algebra behind transformations, connecting them with matrix multiplication. Last, students extrapolate what they have learned about the symmetry group of a square to characterize the symmetry group of a triangle.
Before the Activity
Download the attached PDF and look over the information on the first page. Distribute the Student Worksheet and attached calculator files for use during the activity.
During the Activity
Discuss the material from the activity pages with students as needed.
After the Activity
Encourage students to summarize what they have learned from completing the activity.