Square in the coordinate plane has vertices at the points and Consider the following four transformations:
a rotation of counterclockwise around the origin;
a rotation of clockwise around the origin;
a reflection across the -axis; and
a reflection across the -axis.
Each of these transformations maps the squares onto itself, but the positions of the labeled vertices will change. For example, applying and then would send the vertex at to and would send the vertex at to itself. How many sequences of transformations chosen from will send all of the labeled vertices back to their original positions? (For example, is one sequence of transformations that will send the vertices back to their original positions.)
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Problem © Mathematical Association of America (MAA), American Mathematics Competitions. Reproduced for non-commercial educational use. Solution and commentary are original to this site.