Correct Option
The English alphabet comprises 21 consonants. When these capital letters are observed in a plane mirror, some retain their original appearance due to their symmetrical properties, while others do not.
The consonants that appear unchanged in a mirror reflection are those possessing vertical symmetry. These include: H, M, T, V, W, X, Y. There are 7 such consonants.
To determine the number of consonants whose images do not look like their original shapes, subtract the symmetrical consonants from the total number of consonants:
Number of consonants not retaining original shape = Total consonants - Symmetrical consonants
= 21 - 7 = 14
Incorrect Options
Options 1 (13), 3 (15), and 4 (16) are incorrect. The calculation for the number of consonants whose mirror images do not resemble their original shapes is precisely 14, based on the 21 total consonants and the 7 identified symmetrical consonants (H, M, T, V, W, X, Y). The other options represent incorrect counts or miscalculations of the non-symmetrical consonants.