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4th Std Scholarship · Intelligence Test

Reflection

5 concepts · 40 practice questions with answers · Free to read

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Mirror and water images : the basic idea

From everyday life

Raise your right hand in front of a mirror and the hand in the mirror looks like the left. A tree on a lake shore looks upside down in the water. In the first the right and left changed, in the second the top and bottom.

Simple definition

Mirror image : with an upright mirror the right and left sides swap. Water image : water lies flat, so the top goes down and the bottom goes up.

Shapes and their images

ShapeIn a mirrorIn water
▲▲▼
▼▼▲
◀▶◀
▶◀▶
◢◣◥
◣◢◤
◥◤◢
◤◥◣
1
Rule 1

In a mirror right and left swap; top and bottom stay.

  • e.g. ▶ looks like ◀ in a mirror.
2
Rule 2

In water top and bottom swap; right and left stay.

  • e.g. ▲ looks like ▼ in water.
3
Rule 3

The mirror line is upright, the water line is flat. The image appears on the other side of the line at the same distance.

  • e.g. an object 2 steps from the mirror has its image 2 steps behind it.
4
Rule 4

A shape that is already symmetric looks the same in its image.

  • e.g. ▲ looks like ▲ in a mirror; ◀ looks like ◀ in water.
Example 1 · easy

What is the mirror image of ▶ ?

  1. Right and left swap.
  2. Answer : ◀.
Example 2 · medium

What is the water image of ◢ ?

  1. The right angle is at the bottom right. When top and bottom swap it goes to the top right.
  2. Answer : ◥.
Example 3 · exam-style

What are the mirror image and the water image of ◥ ?

  1. Mirror : swap right and left, the right angle goes to the top left.
  2. Water : swap top and bottom, the right angle goes to the bottom right.
  3. Answer : mirror ◤, water ◢.
Remember

Mirror = right and left swap; water = top and bottom swap.

Common mistake

Turning top and bottom in a mirror or right and left in water.

Shortcut

Memory clue : "Mirror swaps sideways, water swaps up-down."

Shortcut

Look at where the right angle is; swap right and left for a mirror, top and bottom for water.

Spot the difference

ShapeMirrorWater
▶◀▶
◢◣◥
▲▲▼

Practice questions

Easy
  1. 1What is the mirror image of ◀ ?
  2. 2What is the water image of ▼ ?
  3. 3What is the mirror image of ◣ ?
Medium
  1. 4What is the water image of ◤ ?
  2. 5What is the mirror image of ◢ ?
  3. 6What is the water image of ◥ ?
Challenging
  1. 7Take the mirror image of ◤, then the water image of that. What is the final shape?
  2. 8Which shape has the same mirror image and the same water image? (from ▲ ▼ ◀ ▶)
Show answers (try them yourself first)
  1. 1▶.
  2. 2▲.
  3. 3◢.
  4. 4◣.
  5. 5◣.
  6. 6◢.
  7. 7◢ (mirror : ◥, then water : ◢).
  8. 8None; ▲ gives ▲ in a mirror but ▼ in water, ◀ gives ▶ in a mirror but ◀ in water.

Mirror image of letters and words

From everyday life

The word AMBULANCE is written reversed on the front of an ambulance so that it reads correctly in the mirror of the car ahead. In a mirror the order of the word reverses and the letters turn too.

Simple definition

In the mirror image of a word the order of the letters runs from the end to the start and every letter turns right-to-left. Some letters are symmetric so they do not look turned.

TOPTOP

Kinds of letters

KindLetters
Look the same in a mirrorA H I M O T U V W X Y
Look turned in a mirrorB C D E F G J K L N P Q R S Z
1
Rule 1

First reverse the order : the last letter comes first.

  • e.g. TOP : the order in the mirror is POT.
2
Rule 2

Then look at every letter : A H I M O T U V W X Y stay, the others turn.

  • e.g. in TOP the T and O stay, P turns.
3
Rule 3

A word looks the same only if it reads the same backwards and all its letters are symmetric.

  • e.g. MOM, WOW.
4
Rule 4

Whether the mirror is on the left or on the right, the image looks the same.

  • e.g. even with the mirror on the left the image of TOP has the order POT.
Example 1 · easy

How will TOP look in a mirror?

  1. Reverse the order : P O T.
  2. P looks turned; O and T stay.
  3. Answer : POT (flipped : P).
Example 2 · medium

Which of MOM, TOP, WOW, HAT look the same in a mirror?

  1. The letters must be symmetric and the word must read the same backwards.
  2. MOM and WOW meet both conditions.
  3. TOP reversed is POT; HAT reversed is TAH.
  4. Answer : MOM, WOW.
Example 3 · exam-style

How will MATH look in a mirror?

  1. Reverse the order : H T A M.
  2. M, A, T, H are all symmetric; none turns.
  3. Answer : HTAM (all look the same).
Remember

In a mirror the order reverses first, then the letters; symmetric letters stay as they are.

Common mistake

Turning only the letters and keeping the order.

Shortcut

Memory clue : "HATMOUTWIXVY : these letters stay the same in a mirror."

Shortcut

If all the letters are symmetric the image is simply the word read backwards.

Spot the difference

WordSame in a mirror?
MOMyes
TOPno
MATHno

Practice questions

Easy
  1. 1How will AHA look in a mirror?
  2. 2How will BED look in a mirror?
  3. 3How will HUT look in a mirror?
Medium
  1. 4How will TAX look in a mirror?
  2. 5How will DAD look in a mirror?
  3. 6How will SOUP look in a mirror?
Challenging
  1. 7Which of OTTO, TOOT, HOME, AXA look the same in a mirror?
  2. 8Write any one six-letter word that looks the same in a mirror.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
  1. 1AHA (all look the same)
  2. 2DEB (flipped : B, E, D)
  3. 3TUH (all look the same)
  4. 4XAT (all look the same)
  5. 5DAD (flipped : D)
  6. 6PUOS (flipped : S, P)
  7. 7OTTO, TOOT, AXA.
  8. 8e.g. MAXXAM (all letters symmetric and the same backwards).

Mirror and water images of numbers

From everyday life

A date board looks reversed in a mirror. For numbers the rule of order and of digits is the same as for letters.

Simple definition

In a mirror the order of the number runs from the end to the start. In the exam 0, 1, 8 are taken to stay the same in a mirror; 0, 3, 8 are taken to stay the same in water.

10811081

Kinds of digits

ImageDigits that stay the same
Mirror0 1 8
Water0 3 8
1
Rule 1

In a mirror reverse the order of the digits.

  • e.g. 1081 : in a mirror 1801.
2
Rule 2

Digits other than 0, 1, 8 look turned in a mirror.

  • e.g. 2 and 5 look turned in a mirror.
3
Rule 3

In water the order stays; digits other than 0, 3, 8 look upside down.

  • e.g. 3083 looks the same in water.
4
Rule 4

A number looks the same in a mirror if all its digits are symmetric and it reads the same backwards.

  • e.g. 8008.
Example 1 · easy

How will 1081 look in a mirror?

  1. Reverse the order : 1 8 0 1.
  2. 1, 0 and 8 are all symmetric.
  3. Answer : 1801 (all the same).
Example 2 · medium

How will 2480 look in a mirror?

  1. Reverse the order : 0 8 4 2.
  2. 2 and 4 look turned.
  3. Answer : 0842 (turned : 2, 4).
Example 3 · exam-style

Of 3083 and 3508 which looks the same in water?

  1. 3083 : 3, 0, 8, 3 all stay in water.
  2. 3508 : the 5 turns.
  3. Answer : 3083.
Remember

In a number 0 1 8 stay for a mirror and 0 3 8 stay for water.

Common mistake

Turning only the digits without reversing the order in a mirror.

Shortcut

Memory clue : "Mirror : zero, one, eight. Water : zero, three, eight."

Shortcut

0 and 8 stay in both; only 1 stays in a mirror and 3 in water.

Spot the difference

NumberOrder in a mirrorSame in water?
10811801no
24800842no
30833803yes

Practice questions

Easy
  1. 1How will 3108 look in a mirror?
  2. 2How will 8801 look in a mirror?
  3. 3How will 5081 look in a mirror?
Medium
  1. 4How will 8300 look in water?
  2. 5How will 1230 look in water?
  3. 6How will 3083 look in water?
Challenging
  1. 7Of 1801, 8008, 1881, 1031 which numbers look the same in a mirror?
  2. 8How will 8038 look in water?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
  1. 18013 (turned : 3)
  2. 21088 (all the same)
  3. 31805 (turned : 5)
  4. 48300 (all the same)
  5. 51230 (upside down : 1, 2)
  6. 63083 (all the same)
  7. 78008, 1881.
  8. 88038 (all the same)

Water image of letters and words

From everyday life

The signboard of a shop on a lake shore looks upside down in the water, but its letters still read left to right. They are only turned upside down.

Simple definition

In the water image the order of the letters stays, but every letter turns upside down. Some letters are symmetric so they look the same.

CODECODE

Kinds of letters

KindLetters
Look the same in waterB C D E H I K O X
Look upside down in waterA F G J L M N P Q R S T U V W Y Z
1
Rule 1

In water the order does not change.

  • e.g. CAT : in water the order is C, A, T.
2
Rule 2

B C D E H I K O X stay, the others turn upside down.

  • e.g. in CAT the C stays; A and T turn upside down.
3
Rule 3

If every letter is from this list the word looks exactly the same in water; it need not read the same backwards.

  • e.g. DICE, BOX.
4
Rule 4

This list is different from the mirror list; do not mix the two lists.

  • e.g. H, I, O, X are in both lists.
Example 1 · easy

How will BOX look in water?

  1. B, O and X are all in the list.
  2. Answer : BOX (all look the same).
Example 2 · medium

How will CAT look in water?

  1. The order stays : C A T.
  2. C stays; A and T turn upside down.
  3. Answer : CAT (turned upside down : A, T).
Example 3 · exam-style

Which of DICE, CAT, HIKE, TOP look the same in water?

  1. Check whether every letter is in the list.
  2. DICE : D I C E are all there. HIKE : H I K E are all there.
  3. CAT has an A which is not in the list; TOP has T and P which are not.
  4. Answer : DICE, HIKE.
Remember

In water the order stays; only the non-symmetric letters turn upside down.

Common mistake

Reversing the order in water too.

Shortcut

Memory clue : "BOX, CODE, HIKE : these words look the same in water."

Shortcut

If a word has only the letters B C D E H I K O X it looks the same in water.

Spot the difference

WordOrder in a mirrorSame in water?
BOXXOByes
CATTACno
HIKEEKIHyes

Practice questions

Easy
  1. 1How will DICE look in water?
  2. 2How will TAX look in water?
  3. 3How will BOOK look in water?
Medium
  1. 4How will CAT look in water?
  2. 5How will CHIEF look in water?
  3. 6How will OXEN look in water?
Challenging
  1. 7Of HIKE, COOK, BEAT, DOCK which words look the same in water?
  2. 8Write one word whose mirror image and water image both look the same.
Show answers (try them yourself first)
  1. 1DICE (all look the same)
  2. 2TAX (turned upside down : T, A)
  3. 3BOOK (all look the same)
  4. 4CAT (turned upside down : A, T)
  5. 5CHIEF (turned upside down : F)
  6. 6OXEN (turned upside down : N)
  7. 7HIKE, COOK, DOCK.
  8. 8e.g. HOH or OXO (letters in both lists and the same backwards).

Mixed questions and exam tricks

From everyday life

In the exam a row of shapes is given and you are asked for the "mirror" or the "water" image. First read which image is asked, then find the answer.

Simple definition

Mirror image of a row of shapes : the order reverses and every shape turns right-to-left. Water image : the order stays and every shape turns top-to-bottom.

Mirror and water

PointMirrorWater
LineUprightFlat
OrderReversesStays
ShapesRight-leftTop-bottom
1
Rule 1

First find out whether the question says mirror or water.

  • e.g. "mirror on the right" means a mirror image.
2
Rule 2

Mirror : reverse the order, then turn every shape right-to-left.

  • e.g. mirror of ▲ ◢ ▶ : ◀ ◣ ▲.
3
Rule 3

Water : keep the order, then turn every shape top-to-bottom.

  • e.g. water of ▲ ◢ ▶ : ▼ ◥ ▶.
4
Rule 4

The answer must have as many shapes as the original; count them.

  • e.g. if 3 shapes are given the image also has 3.
Example 1 · easy

What is the mirror image of the row ◀ ◥ ▼ ?

  1. Reverse the order.
  2. Turn every shape right-to-left.
  3. Answer : ▼ ◤ ▶.
Example 2 · medium

What is the water image of the row ◣ ▲ ◤ ▶ ?

  1. Keep the order.
  2. Turn every shape top-to-bottom.
  3. Answer : ◤ ▼ ◣ ▶.
Example 3 · exam-style

Write the mirror image and the water image of the row ◣ ▲ ◤ ▶ .

  1. Mirror : reverse the order, turn right-to-left : ◀ ◥ ▲ ◢.
  2. Water : keep the order, turn top-to-bottom : ◤ ▼ ◣ ▶.
  3. Answer : mirror ◀ ◥ ▲ ◢; water ◤ ▼ ◣ ▶.
Remember

Mirror : reverse the order + right-left. Water : keep the order + top-bottom.

Common mistake

Keeping the order in a mirror question or reversing it in a water question.

Shortcut

Memory clue : "Mirror : reversed order. Water : the same order."

Shortcut

Write the image of each shape separately and then join the row.

Spot the difference

RowMirrorWater
▲ ◢ ▶◀ ◣ ▲▼ ◥ ▶
◀ ◥ ▼▼ ◤ ▶◀ ◢ ▲

Practice questions

Easy
  1. 1What is the mirror image of the row ◢ ▲ ◀ ?
  2. 2What is the mirror image of the row ◤ ▶ ▼ ?
  3. 3What is the water image of the row ▲ ▼ ◣ ▶ ?
Medium
  1. 4What is the mirror image of the row ◢ ◤ ▲ ▼ ◀ ?
  2. 5What is the water image of the row ◢ ◤ ▲ ▼ ◀ ?
  3. 6How will MATH look in water?
Challenging
  1. 7Take the mirror image of the row ▲ ▼ ◣ ▶ and then the water image of that.
  2. 8Of 1081 and 8008 which number looks the same in both a mirror and in water?
Show answers (try them yourself first)
  1. 1▶ ▲ ◣.
  2. 2▼ ◀ ◥.
  3. 3▼ ▲ ◤ ▶.
  4. 4▶ ▼ ▲ ◥ ◣.
  5. 5◥ ◣ ▼ ▲ ◀.
  6. 6MATH (turned upside down : M, A, T)
  7. 7◀ ◥ ▲ ▼.
  8. 88008 (8 and 0 stay in both; in 1081 the 1 turns in water).

Quick revision of the whole lesson

TopicMemory clue
MirrorRight-left turns; order reverses
WaterTop-bottom turns; order stays
Letters in a mirrorHATMOUTWIXVY stay
Letters in waterBCDEHIKOX stay
DigitsMirror 0 1 8; water 0 3 8
Row of shapesMirror : reverse order; water : same order

🎯 Most important points for the exam

  • In a mirror right and left swap, in water top and bottom swap.
  • In a mirror the order of a word reverses; in water the order stays.
  • Letters that look the same in a mirror : A H I M O T U V W X Y.
  • Letters that look the same in water : B C D E H I K O X.
  • 0, 1, 8 stay in a mirror and 0, 3, 8 stay in water.
  • First read whether the question says mirror or water.
🧠 Study mantra

"Mirror reverses the order, water keeps it."