Three-dimensional images are present in several everyday life situations. However, this topic is not mentioned in most high school and undergraduate physics courses. This fact, as far as we are concerned, is related to the given treatment to image formation observed in physics textbooks for high school level. Most of them represent the object reduced to an arrow perpendicular to lenses or mirrors axis, which implies a superficial approach of the matter; besides, it is distant from the students' everyday life context, leaving a gap in their scientific education. The exposed evidences have motivated us to present a simple, though complete, analysis of the subject in order to complement textbooks and enrich discussions about such a fascinating theme.
mirror; lens; image
