GMA Mirror Images & Embedded Figures 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A letter 'R' is reflected across a vertical axis. What does the mirror image look like?
- R (unchanged)
- Я (reversed horizontally) (Correct answer)
- ᴚ (flipped vertically)
- Я flipped upside down
Correct answer: Я (reversed horizontally)
Reflecting 'R' across a vertical axis flips it horizontally, producing a backwards R (Я). The letter's bump and leg now point to the left.
Mirror reflection across a vertical axis swaps left and right while keeping top and bottom unchanged. For the letter R, the curved bump and the diagonal leg point to the right in the original; in the mirror image they point to the left, producing the Cyrillic-style reversed R (Я). Understanding axis direction is critical for this type of question.
Question 2: An arrow pointing to the upper-right (↗) is reflected in a horizontal mirror line. What direction does the reflected arrow point?
- Upper-right (↗)
- Lower-right (↘) (Correct answer)
- Upper-left (↖)
- Lower-left (↙)
Correct answer: Lower-right (↘)
Reflecting across a horizontal axis flips the vertical component (up becomes down) while leaving the horizontal component (right) unchanged. So ↗ becomes ↘.
When reflecting across a horizontal mirror line, only the vertical direction is reversed: upward components become downward, and vice versa. The arrow ↗ (pointing up-right) becomes ↘ (pointing down-right) because the rightward component is preserved but the upward component is flipped downward.
Question 3: Which of these shapes contains a hidden small equilateral triangle embedded within it? (A) Large right-angled triangle (B) Regular hexagon (C) Circle (D) Rectangle
- Large right-angled triangle
- Regular hexagon (Correct answer)
- Circle
- Rectangle
Correct answer: Regular hexagon
A regular hexagon can be divided into 6 equilateral triangles, all meeting at the centre. A small equilateral triangle is naturally embedded within it.
Embedded figures questions require recognising a simple shape hidden within a more complex one. A regular hexagon is composed of six congruent equilateral triangles radiating from its centre point. Therefore an equilateral triangle is inherently embedded within a regular hexagon, making it the correct answer.
Question 4: The number '2' is reflected across a vertical line. Which option correctly shows the result?
- 2 (normal)
- S-shape (horizontally flipped 2) (Correct answer)
- 2 upside down
- 2 rotated 90°
Correct answer: S-shape (horizontally flipped 2)
Reflecting '2' across a vertical axis produces a horizontally mirrored version where the curved top and angled bottom now face the opposite direction — resembling a backwards S-shape or reversed 2.
The digit 2 has its curve opening to the right at the top and its horizontal base extending to the right at the bottom. After vertical-axis reflection, the curve opens to the left and the base extends to the left — a horizontally flipped figure. This is distinct from a 180° rotation.
Question 5: A simple house shape (square base with triangular roof) is reflected in a vertical mirror. What changes in the mirror image?
- The roof disappears
- Nothing changes — it looks identical
- The chimney (if on the left) now appears on the right (Correct answer)
- The base becomes a triangle
Correct answer: The chimney (if on the left) now appears on the right
A symmetric house shape looks the same after vertical reflection, UNLESS there is an asymmetric feature like a chimney on one side. With a chimney on the left, the mirror image moves it to the right.
If the house has a chimney on the left side, a vertical mirror reflection swaps left and right, placing the chimney on the right side of the mirror image. A perfectly symmetric shape (no chimney) would appear identical. GMA embedded/mirror questions often test whether candidates notice asymmetric details.
Question 6: Identify which simple shape is hidden inside the following complex figure: A six-pointed star (Star of David pattern). Which shape is embedded at the centre?
- Circle
- Square
- Regular hexagon (Correct answer)
- Pentagon
Correct answer: Regular hexagon
A six-pointed star (two overlapping equilateral triangles) has a regular hexagon formed by the intersection region at its centre.
The Star of David is formed by overlaying two equilateral triangles. Where they overlap, the six inner vertices form a regular hexagon. This is a classic embedded-figures answer and demonstrates how complex shapes contain simpler ones within their intersecting regions.
GMA Mirror Images & Embedded Figures 2
A letter 'R' is reflected across a vertical axis.
What does the mirror image look like?