Making Maths: Rangoli Designs

These beautiful patterns are traditionally used in India to decorate the borders of Sarees (dresses) and on gates and window grills. They are also drawn on the ground at the doorstep with rice flour, to keep bad omens out of the house. The more complicated they are, the better they are at keeping away bad thoughts and spirits.

Look carefully at these examples. Some have line symmetry - that is, folding or mirror symmetry. All of them have rotation (turning) symmetry. So you can spin them around and on the way around they match up with own starting position at least twice. Which one has no line symmetry but matches four times as it turns around?



Try copying these designs. Then try creating your own! Maybe you could ask permission to draw a Rangoli pattern on the ground with chalk.