2019 AMC 10 A

Complete problem set with solutions and individual problem pages

Problem 8 Easy

The figure below shows line  \ell with a regular, infinite, recurring pattern of squares and line segments.

How many of the following four kinds of rigid motion transformations of the plane in which this figure is drawn, other than the identity transformation, will transform this figure into itself? (2019 AMC 10A Problem, Question#8)

▪  some rotation around a point of line \ell

▪  some translation in the direction parallel to line \ell

▪  the reflection across line \ell

▪  some reflection across a line perpendicular to line \ell

  • A.

    0

  • B.

    1

  • C.

    2

  • D.

    3

  • E.

    4

Answer:C

Statement 1 is true. A 180^\circ rotation about the point half way between an up-facing square and a down-facing square will yield the same figure.Statement 2 is also true. A translation to the left or right will place the image onto itself when the figures above and below the line realign (the figure goes on infinitely in both directions).Statement 3 is false. A reflection across line \ell will change the up-facing squares to down-facing squares and vice versa.

Finally, statement 4 is also false because it will cause the diagonal lines extending from the squares to switch direction. Thus, only 2 statements are true.