Learn the 3-Step Method
1Anchor the near edge.
Whatever touches (or is closest to) the line stays closest in the image.
2Swap left and right.
Details pointing away from the line still point away — which means the figure’s handedness flips.
3Up and down stay put.
A VERTICAL mirror never flips top and bottom — options that do are instant eliminations.
Worked Example
Which is the correct mirror image (vertical line) of the flag?
Watch Out! Common Mistakes
The classic decoy! The 180° turn LOOKS reversed but keeps handedness. Apply the hand test from N6.
Wrong axis! A vertical line swaps left↔right only. (A horizontal line would swap top↔bottom only.)
Measure from the line! A detail 2 squares from the mirror sits exactly 2 squares beyond it in the image — options that drift are wrong.
⬇ Cheat Sheet
- Near the line stays near; distances stay equal.
- Vertical mirror: left↔right swap, top/bottom fixed.
- Handedness always reverses.
- Eliminate options that flip the wrong axis first.
📖 Continue Your Journey
Quick summary
- Points keep their distance from the mirror line on the other side.
- A vertical mirror swaps left and right only; top and bottom stay.
- Handedness reverses — the rotation decoy keeps it.
- Eliminate wrong-axis options before fine checking.
Frequently asked questions
What does a mirror image change?
Left and right swap across the line while every point keeps its distance from it; top and bottom stay put for a vertical mirror.
What's the most common wrong answer?
The 180° rotation — it looks reversed but keeps the figure's handedness. The hand test tells them apart.
How should children check mirror options quickly?
Axis first (top/bottom must be unchanged for a vertical line), then handedness, then distances — most options fall at the first check.
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