The solution at revision #20667 of , by Tete. This is not the current version.

Statement

13.1.5. Create an image of the object in a flat mirror. The image is inverted from right to left in relation to the subject. Why doesn't the mirror "flip" the image from top to bottom?

Solution

For problem $13.1.5$
For problem

Mirror image is front-back inverted, but we often say that it is left-right inverted because we fix the up-down direction and use it together with the front-back direction to define the left-right direction. More precisely, if we consider as up and as front, then left is defined as . When mirror image is front-back inverted, left becomes , and we say that the image is left-right inverted.

Imagine what happens when we fix the left-right direction and use it together with the front-back direction to define the up-down direction. If we consider as left and as front, then up is defined as . When mirror image is front-back inverted, up becomes , and we might as well say that the image is up-down inverted.

Answer

See the solution.