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2018 Math Kangaroo

Problem 2

Problem 2 · 2018 Math Kangaroo Easy
Spatial & Visual Reasoning reflectionsymmetry

If the letters of the word MAMA are written one underneath another, the word has a vertical axis of symmetry. For which of these words is that also true?

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Answer: E — TOTO
Show hints
Hint 1 of 2
Stack the letters of a word in a column and imagine a mirror line running straight down.
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Hint 2 of 2
Every single letter must look the same in that vertical mirror — check each letter of each word.
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Approach: test each letter for a vertical mirror line
  1. A word has a vertical axis of symmetry only if every letter does (A, M, T, O, U, V, W, …).
  2. ADAM has D, BAUM has B, BOOT has B, LOGO has L and G — none of these are vertically symmetric.
  3. In TOTO every letter (T, O, T, O) is symmetric about a vertical line, so the answer is TOTO.
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