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Mathematics

Symmetry Groups of Regular Polygons and Platonic Solids

Quick fact

The symmetry group of a regular n-gon is called the dihedral group Dn and has exactly 2n distinct symmetries: n rotations and n reflections. The symmetry groups of the five Platonic solids are among the finite groups that never appear as symmetry groups of any object in three-dimensional space, a fact linked to the classification of finite simple groups.

Why this is interesting

An equilateral triangle looks the same after a 120° turn or a flip—but how many total moves can you make and still have it look exactly the same? That count, and the structure that underlies it, is the symmetry group.