Pastime with Symmetrical Flags Quiz

Answer: Indonesia

Sidewise symmetrical objects have a vertical line of symmetry halving them.

The Indonesian flag consists of two horizontal stripes and obeys the above principal.

The Icelandic flag is not sidewise symmetrical as its sidewise mirror image has the vertical red bar shifting from left to right.

The Irish and Italian flags are not sidewise symmetrical as their sidewise mirror images have the coloured bars replacing positions (now think if this holds true for the Nigerian flag as well).

Answer: Indonesia

Topwise symmetrical objects have a horizontal line of symmetry halving them.

The Indonesian flag consists of two horizontal stripes with different colours along the horizontal line halving it so obviously it does not obey the above principal, as opposed to Icelandic, Italian and Irish flags.

Answer: Israel

The placing of the two triangles which compound the Star of David and the alignment of the blue stripes deem the Israeli flag to be both sidewise symmetrical and topwise symmetrical. In formal terminology, such a shape is said to display quadrilateral symmetry.

The Israeli flag is influenced by the design of the Jewish blue and white prayer shawl (the Tallit).

The Russian and Ukrainian flags are sidewise symmetrical but not topwise symmetrical. The French flag is topwise symmetrical but not sidewise symmetrical. Such shapes are formally said to display bilateral symmetry.

Answer: Dominican Republic

The blue and red colours of the rectangles in the Dominican Republic flag and their crossed locations on the grid deem this flag to be an asymmetric one (imagine how that fact would change if the four rectangles were to change positions or colours).

The Swiss flag has quadrilateral symmetry, the Dutch flag is sidewise symmetrical and the Swedish flag is topwise symmetrical.

Answer: The Canadian flag is sidewise symmetrical

The maple leaf has perfect sidewise symmetry which is kept in the Canadian flag.

The Star Spangled Banner, The Union Jack and the Australian flag are neither sidewise symmetrical nor topwise symmetrical.

Answer: All of these

The symmetry-breaking elements in the flags in question is the crescent which is not sidewise symmetrical and the five-pointed star which is not topwise symmetrical (its alignment in the Turkish and Tunisian flags renders it to be not sidewise symmetrical as well).

In the cases of the Turkish and Tunisian flag the crescent moon and star are an Islamic emblem, while in the Singaporian flag the crescent and five five-pointed stars signify the young rising nation and its ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.

Answer: The bird is looking to the right

Place your palms side by side and see where your two thumbs face - it is the same principal which causes the mirror image of the beautiful Grey Crowned Crane to change the direction it faces.

The red, yellow and black horizontal stripes of the Ugandan flag representing African brotherhood, sunshine and people, as well as the Grey Crowned Crane's tail reverse their orientation only in a topwise mirror reflection.

Answer: Both

The top-left alignment of the white cross accounts for the complete break of symmetry of the Greek flag. It will shift to bottom-left in the topwise mirror image and to the top-right in the sidewise mirror image.

Two versions exist as to the origin of the nine blue and white stripes. One says that they represent the nine syllables of the phrase "Eleftheria i Thanatos" ("Freedom or Death") whereas according to the second they represent the nine Muses.

Answer: Neither

The different colours of the red and blue horizontal stripes break the topwise symmetry, and the triangular shapes on the left break the sidewise symmetry.

Interestingly, excluding flags with seals or brocades, no other world flag has six colours.

Answer: The Japanese flag is both sidewise and topwise symmetrical

The red circle representing the rising sun is placed exactly at the centre of the Japanese flag.

The flag of Palau is topwise symmetrical but it is not sidewise symmetrical because the yellow circle representing the moon is placed off-centre to the left.

The Laotian flag actually has quadrilateral symmetry. The white circle representing the moon is placed exactly at its centre.

The Indian flag is sidewise symmetrical, but not topwise symmetrical. The beautiful Ashoka Chakra at its centre has quadrilateral symmetry but the topwise symmetry breaks due to the colour difference between upper stripe(saffron) and lower stripe (green).

This quiz is a result of a thrilling session on the subject with my 6-year old girl. Me and little Avigail would like to thank you for taking part in our game, hope you had a good time with us.