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Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Maths: Your notes

Extended
Geometry Toolkit
Contents
Rotational Symmetry
Lines of Symmetry
2D Shapes
3D Shapes
Planes of Symmetry
Converting between Units
Squared & Cubic Units

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Rotational Symmetry
Your notes
Rotational Symmetry
What is the order of rotational symmetry?
Rotational symmetry refers to the number of times a shape looks the same as it is rotated 360° about
its centre
This number is called the order of rotational symmetry
Tracing paper can help work out the order of rotational symmetry
Draw an arrow on the tracing paper so you can easily tell when you have turned it through 360°

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Your notes

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Your notes

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Your notes

Notice that returning to the original shape contributes 1 to the order

This means a shape can never have order 0

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A shape with rotational symmetry order 1 may be described as not having any rotational symmetry
The only time it looks the same is when you get back to the start Your notes

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Remember to use the trick above; using an upwards arrow on the tracing paper to show the starting
orientation of the shape.

Worked Example
For the shape below, shade exactly 4 more squares so that the shape has rotational symmetry of
order 4.

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Your notes

The shape below appears the same 4 times if rotated through 360 degrees

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Your notes

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Lines of Symmetry
Your notes
Lines of Symmetry
What is line symmetry?
Line symmetry refers to shapes that can have mirror lines added to them
Each side of the line of symmetry is a reflection of the other side
Lines of symmetry can be thought of as a folding line too
Folding a shape along a line of symmetry results in the two parts sitting exactly on top of each
other

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Your notes

It can help to look at shapes from different angles; turn the page to do this

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Your notes

Some questions will provide a portion of a shape and a line of symmetry, and you need to fill in the
remaining half of the shape
Be careful with diagonal lines of symmetry
Use tracing paper to trace the shape and then flip along the line of symmetry
“Two-way” reflections (like part c below) occur if the line of symmetry passes through the shape

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Your notes

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Your notes

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Your notes

Examiner Tips and Tricks

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It can help to add the lines of symmetry to a diagram if one is given in a question
You should be provided with tracing paper in the exam, use this to help you
Your notes
You can request it if you are not given it at the start

Worked Example
Consider the shape below.

(a) Write down the number of lines of symmetry.

The only line of symmetry is shown below

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Your notes

There is 1 line of symmetry.

(b) Shade exactly 4 more squares so that the shape has 4 lines of symmetry.
The shape below has a horizontal, a vertical, and 2 diagonal lines of symmetry

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Your notes

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2D Shapes
Your notes
Properties of 2D Shapes
What are the names of common 2D shapes?
You should know the general names of all the 2D polygons
A triangle has 3 sides
A quadrilateral has 4 sides
A pentagon has 5 sides
A hexagon has 6 sides
A heptagon has 7 sides
An octagon has 8 sides
A nonagon has 9 sides
A decagon has 10 sides
A polygon is a flat (plane) shape with n straight sides
A regular polygon has all sides the same length and all angles the same size

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Your notes

What are the names of the different types of triangles?

You should know the names and properties of the different types of triangles
An equilateral triangle has 3 equal sides and 3 equal angles
An isosceles triangle has 2 equal sides and 2 equal angles
A right-angled triangle has one 90° angle
A scalene triangle has 3 sides all of different lengths

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Your notes

What are the names of the different types of quadrilaterals?

You should know the names and properties of the different types of quadrilaterals
These are squares, rectangles, parallelograms, rhombuses, trapeziums and kites

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Your notes

What are the properties of rectangles and squares?

Rectangles and squares have four equal right angles (90°)
Rectangles have two pairs of equal length, parallel sides
Squares are just regular rectangles; all four of their sides are equal
The diagonals of a rectangle bisect each other at the centre of the rectangle
This means that they cut each other in half
The intersecting diagonals form two pairs of angles at the centre
In a square, all four of these angles will be equal to 90°
Pythagoras’ theorem can be used to find the length of the diagonal of a square or rectangle
The diagonal forms the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle

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Your notes

What are the properties of parallelograms and rhombuses?

Parallelograms and rhombuses (rhombi) have two pairs of equal, opposite, angles
Parallelograms and rhombuses have two pairs of opposite, parallel sides
Rhombuses have four sides of the same length
This means a rhombus is a regular parallelogram
A square is also a regular rhombus
The diagonals of a parallelogram bisect each other, forming two pairs of opposite angles
The diagonals of a rhombus bisect each other at right angles (90°)
This means that they cut each other in half
The diagonals will not be of equal length
On the diagram below, the diagonal AC is shorter than the diagonal DB

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Your notes

What are the properties of trapeziums?

Trapeziums have one pair of opposite, parallel sides
These are not of equal length
Trapeziums may not have any equal angles
As with all quadrilaterals, the angles add up to 360°
If a trapezium has a line of symmetry, it is classed as isosceles
Isosceles trapeziums have two pairs of equal angles
The non-parallel sides in an isosceles trapezium will be equal length
An isosceles trapezium has two diagonals of equal length

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What are the properties of kites?

Kites have one line of symmetry, known as their main diagonal Your notes
The angles opposite the main diagonal are equal
These are angles ABC and ADC on the diagram below
The diagonals of a kite bisect each other at right angles (90°)
This means that they cut each other in half
The diagonals will not be of equal length
Kites have no parallel sides
Kites have two pairs of equal length, adjacent sides

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Remember the key properties of each shape

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You may need to use these facts to help work out more tricky geometry problems

Your notes
What terms related to circles do I need to know?
Circles have several specific terms that you need to be familiar with:
A circle's perimeter is called a circumference
Its line of symmetry is called a diameter
The line from the centre of the circle to its circumference is called a radius
The diameter is equal to 2 × the radius
A portion of the circumference is called an arc
A portion of the area, contained between two radii and an arc, is called a sector
A line between two points on the circumference is called a chord
The area formed between a chord and an arc is called a segment
A line which intersects the circumference at one point only, is called a tangent

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circumference
The ratio is equal to 𝝅 (3.14159...)
diameter Your notes
Circles have many angle properties and you will need to learn some of them
These properties are known as circle theorems

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Always double check if a measurement is the diameter or the radius
This is a really common error in exams
Diameter = 2 × Radius

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3D Shapes
Your notes
Properties of 3D Shapes
What common 3D shapes do I need to know about?
There are a number of common 3D shapes
You should know their names
and their key properties
A prism is a 3D shape with the same cross-section throughout
The cross-section of a cube is a square
The cross-section of a cuboid is a rectangle
There are other prisms, such as triangular prisms or hexagonal prisms
In these cases the exam question will make sure the shape of the cross-section is clear

A cylinder is similar to a prism

The cross-section of a cylinder is a circle

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Your notes

There are a number of different types of pyramid

A pyramid has a flat base and sloping sides that meet at a point
The pyramid may have a square, rectangular or triangular base
Some pyramids have special names you should know
A triangular-based pyramid is called a tetrahedron

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Your notes

A cone is similar to a pyramid

A cone has a circular base

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Your notes

A sphere is a round solid ball shape

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Your notes

What are the properties of 3D shapes?

3D shapes have a number of faces, vertices and edges
A face is a single flat surface of the 3D shape
A vertex (plural, vertices) is a corner of the 3D shape
An edge joins one vertex to another
You should know the number and shape of the faces (and other surfaces) for the common 3D shapes
A cube has 6 equal, square faces
A cuboid has 3 pairs of rectangular faces
A cylinder has 2 equal circular faces and 1 curved surface
The curved surface has the shape of a rectangle if laid out flat
A triangular prism has 2 equal triangular faces and 3 rectangular faces
If the triangular faces are equilateral then all of the rectangles will be equal
If the triangular faces are isosceles then two of the rectangles will be equal

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A square-based pyramid has 1 square face and 4 equal triangular faces

A tetrahedron has 4 triangular faces Your notes
A sphere has 1 curved surface; it is a ball shape

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Remembering the properties of 3D shapes will help in particular with questions involving surface
area

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What is a net of a solid?

A net of a solid is a 2D drawing that can be cut out and folded to make a 3D shape Your notes
Each of the faces of the 3D shape are arranged in a certain pattern
Not every arrangement of the faces will create a net of that solid
Solids can have more than one arrangement that will work to make the 3D shape
The area of the net of a 3D shape is the same as the surface area of the solid

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Your notes

What does the net of a cube or cuboid look like?

The net of a cube has 6 squares connected at certain edges
There are 11 different arrangements of the square faces that will form a net of a cube

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Your notes

The most common and easiest to remember is in the form of a cross

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Your notes

A cuboid has 6 rectangular faces, so its net consists of 6 rectangles

The most common and easiest net to remember is in the form of a cross
Pay attention to which rectangles are the same
They are colour-coded in the diagram below

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Your notes

What does the net of a cylinder look like?

The net of a cylinder consists of two circles and a rectangle
The length of the rectangle is equal to the circumference of the circles

Circumference = 2 × π× radius
The width of the rectangle is equal to the height of the cylinder

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Your notes

What does the net of a pyramid look like?

The net of a pyramid consists of the base and a triangle attached to each edge of the base
For example, a square-based pyramid has a square base and four congruent (identical) triangles
The perpendicular height of each triangle is equal to the slant height of the pyramid

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Your notes
Examiner Tips and Tricks
You may be given the dimensions of the solid when asked to draw a net
Make sure you put the correct lengths in the correct places by imagining cutting out and
folding up the net

Worked Example
A cuboid measures 6 cm by 3 cm by 2 cm.
On the 1 cm2 grid, draw an accurate net of this cuboid. One face has been drawn for you.

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The cuboid has three pairs of rectangles; measuring 6 cm by 3 cm, 6 cm by 2 cm, and 3 cm by 2 cm
Make sure the net has two of each of these rectangles in the correct places Your notes

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Planes of Symmetry
Your notes
Planes of Symmetry
What is a plane of symmetry?
A plane is a flat surface that can be any 2D shape
A plane of symmetry is a plane that splits a 3D shape into two congruent (identical) halves
If a 3D shape has a plane of symmetry, it has reflection symmetry
The two congruent halves are identical, mirror images of each other
All prisms have at least one plane of symmetry
Cubes have 9 planes of symmetry
Cuboids have 3 planes of symmetry
Cylinders have an infinite number of planes of symmetry
The number of planes of symmetry in other prisms will be equal to the number of lines of symmetry
in its cross-section plus 1
Pyramids can have planes of symmetry too
The number of planes of symmetry in pyramids will be equal to the number of lines of symmetry in
its 2D base
If the base of the pyramid is a regular polygon of n sides, it will have n planes of symmetry

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Your notes

Can a 3D shape have rotational symmetry?

3D shapes are able to be rotated around different axes
Depending on which axis the shape is rotated around, 3D shapes can have rotational symmetry
Recall that rotational symmetry is how many times the shape looks the same (congruent) when rotated
through 360 degrees
See the example of the triangular prism where the cross-section is an equilateral triangle

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Your notes

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Examiner Tips and Tricks Your notes

If you’re unsure in the exam, consider the properties of the 3D shape.
Is it a prism or a pyramid?
How many lines of symmetry are there in the 2D faces or cross-section?

Worked Example
The diagram below shows a cuboid of length 8 cm, width 5 cm and height 11 cm.
Write down the number of planes of symmetry of this cuboid.

A plane of symmetry is where a shape can be "sliced" such that it is symmetrical

A cuboid with three different pairs of opposite rectangles has 3 planes of symmetry
3 planes of symmetry

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Converting between Units

Your notes
Converting Units
How do I convert units of lengths?
For metric units, conversion can be done by simply multiplying or dividing by powers of 10
You need to know the basic conversions for length
1 cm = 10 mm
1 m = 100 cm
1 km = 1000 m
You need to decide whether to multiply or divide by the conversion factor
Ask, does the number of units increase or decrease?
The number of mm is 10 times bigger than the number of cm so mm = cm × 10
You can do the conversion in stages
First convert kilometres into metres then metres into centimetres

How do I convert units of mass?

For metric units, conversion can be done by simply multiplying or dividing by powers of 10
You need to know the basic conversions for mass
1 g = 1000 mg
1 kg = 1000 g
1 tonne = 1000 kg

How do I convert units of volume/capacity?

For metric units, conversion can be done by simply multiplying or dividing by powers of 10
You need to know the basic conversions for capacity
1 litre = 100 cl = 1000 ml
1 cl = 10 ml
You must know the basic conversion between volume and capacity

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1 ml = 1 cm3
1 litre = 1000 ml = 1000 cm3 Your notes
1 m3 = 1000 litres

Worked Example
Convert
(a) 54 cm to mm
1 cm = 10 mm
54 cm = (54 × 10) mm = 540 mm
540 mm
(b) 12 300 cm to km
First convert from cm to m
100 cm = 1 m
12 300 cm = (12 300 ÷ 100) m = 123 m
Now convert from m to km
1000 m = 1 km
123 m = (123 ÷ 1000) km = 0.123 km
0.123 km
(c) 485 g to kg
1000 g = 1 kg
485 g = (485 ÷ 1000) kg
0.485 kg

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Squared & Cubic Units

Your notes
Squared & Cubic Units
How do I convert between squared units (areas)?
You need to square the unit conversion rates
E.g., 1 cm2 = 102 mm2 = 100 mm2
This is because area is 2D
The fact the units have a 'squared' on them will help you remember
It can help to imagine a square
E.g. 1 m2 is a square measuring 1 m × 1 m
In cm this would be 100 cm × 100 cm
So 1 m2 is equivalent to 10 000 cm2
The basic conversions for area are
1 cm2 = 100 mm2
1 m2 = 10 000 cm2
1 km2 = 1 000 000 m2
You may be told conversions for other units in a question, such as
1 hectare (ha) = 10 000 m2

How do I convert between cubed units (volume)?

You need to cube the unit conversion rates
E.g. 1 cm3 = 103 mm3 = 1000 mm3
This is because volume is 3D
The fact the units have a “cubed” on them will help you remember
It can help to imagine a cube
E.g. 1 m3 is a cube measuring 1 m × 1 m × 1 m
In cm this would be 100 cm × 100 cm × 100 cm

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So 1 m3 is equivalent to 1 000 000 cm3

The basic conversions for volume are
Your notes
1 cm3 = 1000 mm3
1 m3 = 1 000 000 cm3
1 km3 = 1 000 000 000 m3

Worked Example
Convert
(a) 8254 mm2 to cm2
1 cm = 10 mm
1 cm2 = 102 mm2 = 100 mm2
8254 mm2 = (8254 ÷ 100) cm2 = 82.54 cm2
82.54 cm2
(b) 2.54 m3 to cm3
1 m = 100 cm
1 m3 = 1003 cm3 = 1 000 000 cm3
2.54 m3 = (2.54 × 1 000 000) cm3 = 2 540 000 cm3
2 540 000 cm3

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