Follow the uneven part
A turn moves the whole shape around. Every block stays attached in the same way.
Follow the short end of this shape as the long arm turns from upright to horizontal.
Compare a turn and a flip
Both figures contain seven cubes. The figure on the right is a mirror image of the one on the left.
Turn either figure and follow how its arms join. Rotating changes the orientation while keeping that arrangement intact.
This particular pair cannot match by rotating alone. Reflect the right figure, then turn it if needed. Some other shapes, such as a plain cube, can match their reflection.
Follow the turn yourself
Compare the start shape with the shape on the right. Follow the long arm and its short end.
Try it
What happened to the shape?
- It was reflected left to right.
- It turned a quarter-turn clockwise.
Show the answer
It turned a quarter-turn clockwise.
The long arm now runs across the top, and the short end sits below its left end. All four blocks turned together.
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Practice Mental rotation