Editing Symmetry (section)

===Other areas of mathematics===
{{main|Symmetry in mathematics}}
Generalizing from geometrical symmetry in the previous section, one can say that a [[mathematical object]] is ''symmetric'' with respect to a given [[Operation (mathematics)|mathematical operation]], if, when applied to the object, this operation preserves some property of the object.<ref>Christopher G. Morris
 (1992) ''Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology'' Gulf Professional Publishing</ref> The set of operations that preserve a given property of the object form a [[group (mathematics)|group]].

In general, every kind of structure in mathematics will have its own kind of symmetry. Examples include [[even and odd functions]] in [[calculus]], [[symmetric group]]s in [[abstract algebra]], [[symmetric matrix|symmetric matrices]] in [[linear algebra]], and [[Galois group]]s in [[Galois theory]]. In [[statistics]], symmetry also manifests as [[symmetric probability distribution]]s, and as [[skewness]]—the asymmetry of distributions.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Petitjean, M. | title = Chirality and Symmetry Measures: A Transdisciplinary Review | journal = Entropy | year = 2003 | volume = 5 | issue = 3 | pages=271–312 (see section 2.9) | doi = 10.3390/e5030271| bibcode = 2003Entrp...5..271P | doi-access = free }}</ref>