TRANSFORMATIONS

A transformation is an operation that maps a set of points onto a

second set of points. If the first set of points defines a geometric
figure (object), then, even the second set will also produce a
geometric figure (image). Some transformations preserve the
shape and size of the original figure while others distort it.
The main types of Transformations include; Translation,
Reflection, Rotation and Enlargement
Any point, line, angle or other feature which do not change in a
transformation are called invariant
A transformation which does not change size and shape of an object
i.e. one in which the object and image are Congruent is called
Isometry. Translations, reflections and rotations are Isometries
TRANSLATIONS
A transformation which maps every point p(x,y) onto a new point
p’(x’,y’) under vector relation = + , where a and b are
fixed numbers, is called a translation.

and are the position vectors of P and P’ respectively. The

position vector of a point is its displacement from the origin.
The translation vector, = - .

Example 1:
The vertices A(3 ,1), B(-2 ,5) and C(-4 ,-3) of triangle ABC are
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mapped onto A’, B’ and C’ of triangle A’B’C’ respectively by a
translation T . Determine the coordinates of A’ ,B’ and C’

Approach:1
Solution:
Let the coordinates of A’ be (x’,y’)
3 3 6
= + = ,
1 2 3

A’ (6, 3)

For B’ (x ,y’), = + = ,

B’ (1, 7)

For C’ (x ,y’), = + = ,

C’ (-1 ,-1)

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Geometric method:

Example 2:
The vertices A(3 ,1), B(-2 ,5), and C(-4 ,-3) of a triangle ABC are
mapped onto A’, B’ and C’ of a triangle A’B’C’respectively by a translation T
= . Calculate the coordinates of A’, B’ and C’.

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Solution

The translation relation is = +

!
The position vector of A’is + = , A’(6,-1)

The position vector of B’is + = , B’(1,3)

The position vector of C’is + = , C’(-1,-5)

’ ’
Therefore the coordinates of A’, B and C are (6 ,1), (1 ,3) and (-1 ,-5)
respectively.
Note that these answers may be obtained geometrically.
Example 3: Find the coordinates of A’ , B’ and C’, the image of
vertices of the object ABC under translation given by the vector
, if the coordinates of A, B and C are (1, 2), (4, 5), (6, 2)
respectively.
Approach:1
For A’, = + = , A’ (5, -1)

"
B’, = + = , B’ (8, 2)
! #
C’, = + = ,C’ (10, -1)

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 Geometrical:

Successive translations
Two or more translations may be subjected to an object, one after
another.

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Example 1:
A triangle PQR with coordinates P(4,0),Q(2,3) and R(-2,1) is
translated by T1= to give P’Q’R’ and P’Q’R’ is then translated
by T2= to give P”Q”R”. Determine the

i) coordinates of the vertices of both image triangles

ii) single translation T that maps PQR to P”Q”R”
Solution
!
i) For P’ = #
+ = P’(6,5)
Q’ = + = "
Q’(4,8)
#
R’ = + = !
R’(0,6)
" !
For P” "
= + = P”(7,2)
"
Q” "
= "
+ = Q”(5,5)
" #
R” "
= !
+ = R”(1,3)
ii) The single translation T=T1+T2
T= +
T= .

Example 2:
All the points P(x ,y) in the x-y plane are subjected successively to a
translations given by vectors T1= , T2 = , T3 =

Find the single translation

a) T which will map all points P(x,y)to their final positions

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b) T’ which will restore all the points P(x,y) back to their original
positions.
Solution
a) T = T1 + T2 + T3
T= + +

T=

b)T’ = -T

T′ =

EXERCISE
Qn1. Find the coordinates of A’, B’ and C’, the images of the
vertices of triangle ABC under a translation given by , if the
coordinates of A, B and C are (1,2), (4,5) and (6,7) respectively.

Qn2. The position vector of P is . Under a certain translation, P

is mapped onto the point P’ which has position vector . Under
the same translation, Q is mapped onto point Q’ which is (3, 6).
Find the coordinates of Q.
Qn3. A point P(-2,1) undergoes two translations T1 and T2
successively where T1= and T2= to give two images
P’(x’,y’) and P”(x”,y”). Determine the coordinates of P’ and P”.
Hence find a single translation that maps P” back to P.

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REFLECTION
In this type of transformation, the image is congruent to the
object. In this case the object and the image will be facing each
other
A reflection transformation is an isometry since the shape and
size of the object are restored
This type of Transformation takes place in presence of a
mirror/reflecting surface
Properties of reflection
a). The mirror (reflecting surface) is between the object and the
image at equal distance from them.
mirror

O i
____________________________________

x cm X cm

mirror

b). The points which are on the mirror line are invariant.

D A A1 D1

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B _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _8B_|1_P a g e

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c). The line joining a points to its image is perpendicular to the
mirror / reflection line

C’ C

Reflection by construction if the mirror line is known

Procedure:
*Draw a perpendicular line from the object point to the mirror
(reflection line) and extrapolate it to the opposite side of the
mirror.
*With your compass, measure, draw the object distance from
the mirror line on the opposite side
*Locate the image point.
Example:
Find the images of the following objects under the given
reflection line.
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P

A B

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Finding the reflection line
Procedure:
*Given the points and its image to find the position of the
reflection line, join the point to its image i.e. A to A’ to form
AA’.
*Draw a perpendicular bisector of AA’and this perpendicular
bisector is the reflection line.
Note:
Even with a plane figure like a triangle ABC, choose a point and
its image and follow the above procedure
Reflection on a Cartesian plane.
For reflection on a Cartesian plane the mirror is always called a
reflection line. The properties of a mirror still stand and have to
be used to find images objects or reflection lines.
Example:
A triangle ABC with coordinates A(4, 0), B(2, 3) and C(-2, 1), is
reflected in the x-axis. Draw the object and the image and the
give the invariant point.

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The invariant point is A(4,0)

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