11+ Rotations
Rotation questions ask whether a shape has been turned. The trick is to follow one feature as an anchor.
A rotation turns a shape around a point without flipping it. The challenge is distinguishing a rotation from a reflection (mirror image), which looks similar but is reversed.
Pick an anchor — a distinctive corner, arrow or dot — and track where it moves. If the shape is simply turned (90°, 180°), it is a rotation; if it is back-to-front, it is a reflection.
Mentally rotating the shape in steps of 90° and comparing to the options is more reliable than trying to judge the whole figure at once.
Worked examples
Q. An arrow points up. After a 90° clockwise rotation, where does it point?
Turning 90° clockwise, an upward arrow now points to the right.
Q. How can you tell a rotation from a reflection of the letter "F"?
A rotated F keeps the same "handedness"; a reflected F is back-to-front (like in a mirror). Track the direction the bars point.
Common mistakes
- Confusing a reflection with a rotation.
- Not using an anchor point to track the turn.
- Guessing the final position instead of rotating in 90° steps.
FAQs
What is the difference between rotation and reflection in NVR?+
Rotation turns a shape around a point and keeps it the same way round; reflection flips it to a mirror image. Tracking an anchor feature reveals which has happened.
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