Reflections worksheets

A reflection keeps a point the same distance from the mirror and puts it on the other side. These free printable worksheets flip points in the x-axis and the y-axis, with the starting point drawn on the grid.

Reflections
Reflections worksheet — In the x-axis or y-axis, free printable with answer key

The answer key prints on a separate page.

What's on this sheet

The rule sounds backwards until you see why. Reflecting in the x-axis changes the y coordinate, because the x-axis is a horizontal mirror and what changes is how far up or down you are. Told as a rule to memorize it gets misremembered constantly; worked out from the distance to the mirror, it comes back every time.

Why this sheet works

Distance is the thing to count. A point four above the mirror goes four below, so (3, 4) reflected in the x-axis is (3, −4) and the 3 never moves. Counting the squares to the mirror and then the same number past it is slower than the rule and it is what makes the rule make sense.