Transformations

MISS USHA BEDASIE

Translation
Rotation
Reflection Enlargement
Geometric Transformation is a process which changes an object’s position, orientation
or size to produce its image.

It involves the movement of a point, or the change of a line segment or plane shape.

It is a process which transforms an initial object onto its resultant image.

- The object is the initial point, line segment or plane shape being transformed,
usually identified using capital letters (example A, B, C).
- The image is the resultant product after transformation has occurred, usually
identified using the prime of the capital letter (example Aʹ, Bʹ, Cʹ).

There are different types of transformations with each type defined by specific conditions.
Each type of transformation is distinguished by its characteristics.
 Translation
A geometric translation can be described as a slide. It is the movement of a point or an
object parallel to the x-axis (horizontal) and parallel to the y-axis (vertical).

A translation vector represents the movement of the object and is written in the form

Note: Movements parallel to the x-axis:

- to the right is positive but to the left is negative.
Movements parallel to the y-axis:
- upwards is positive but downward is negative.
5
Therefore, a translation vector −3
means that the object is moved 5 units to the right
and 3 units downwards.
Example 1.

5 units left A −5
Translation vector = −7

Note: The size and orientation

7 units down

remains the same. Only the

position of the object has
changed.

Aʹ
 A formula which can be used to calculate the translation vector. It can also be transposed to calculate the
object or the image.

Translation vector = Image – Object

Example 2:
The point P = (2 , 5) is translated to the point Pʹ = ( -2 , 3). Find the translation vector.

T.V. = I – O
−2 2
T.V. = 3
– 5

−4
T.V. = −2
Example 3:
4
The point C = (2 , 1) is translated to the point Cʹ by the translation vector 3
.
Find the coordinates of the image Cʹ.

T.V. = I – O
4 2
3
= Cʹ – 1
4 2
3
+ 1
= Cʹ
6 Therefore, the coordinates of Cʹ = ( 6 , 4)
4
= Cʹ
 Reflection
A geometric reflection can be described as a flip. It is the movement of an object across a
line called the mirror line or the axis of reflection.

The size and shape of the object remains the same. Its perimeter and area remains the same.

The orientation of the object changes after being reflected. The object is inverted or
flipped when reflected on the mirror line.

The perpendicular distance of the object from the mirror line is the same as the
perpendicular distance of the image from the mirror line. The object and its image are
symmetric about the mirror line.
axis of reflection
NOTE: The size remains the same but the
position has changed and the orientation
has changed.

The image is inverted or seems flipped

across the mirror line.

The distance of the object from the

mirror line is the same as the distance of
the image from the mirror line.
Reflection in the x-axis:

1 0
Matrix for reflection in the x-axis =
0 −1

OBJECT

mirror line

IMAGE

The x-coordinate remains the same but the sign

of the y-coordinate changes.
Reflection in the line y = x:

0 1
Matrix for reflection in the line y = x:
1 0

OBJECT

IMAGE

The values of the x-coordinate and the y-

coordinate switches.
A formula which can be used to calculate the image, given the point and the line of reflection.

Transformation Matrix × Point = Image

Example 1:
Find the coordinates of the image of the point R = ( -3, -5) after a reflection in the y-axis.

T.M. × Point = Image

−1 0 −3
× −5
= Rʹ
0 1
−1 ×−3 + (0 ×−5)
0 ×−3 + (1 ×−5)
= Rʹ

3+0
0+(−5)
= Rʹ
Therefore, Rʹ = (3 , -5)
3
−5
= Rʹ
 Rotation

A geometric rotation can be described as a turn. It is the movement of an object from one
quadrant to another quadrant of the Cartesian plane.

This is a movement clockwise or anti-clockwise about a centre of rotation through the

angles 90°, 180° or 270°.

The size and shape of the object remains the same. Its perimeter and area remains the
same.

The orientation of the object changes after being rotated.

90° Clockwise rotation = 270° Anti-clockwise rotation

0 1
Rotation Matrix =
−1 0
270° anti-
clockwise 90° clockwise when the centre of rotation is
rotation rotation the origin.
OBJECT

IMAGE
180° Clockwise rotation = 180° Anti-clockwise rotation

−1 0
Rotation Matrix =
0 −1
when the centre of rotation is
OBJECT
the origin.

180°
IMAGE clockwise
rotation
270° Clockwise rotation = 90° Anti-clockwise rotation

0 −1
Rotation Matrix =
1 0
when the centre of rotation is
IMAGE OBJECT
the origin.

270°
clockwise
rotation
A formula which can be used to calculate the image, given the point and the angle of rotation
about the centre of origin.

Transformation Matrix × Point = Image

Example 1:
Find the coordinates of the image of the point M = ( 5, 6) after a 270° clockwise rotation
about the origin.
T.M. × Point = Image
0 −1 5
× 6
= Mʹ
1 0
0 × 5 + (−1 × 6)
1 × 5 + (0 × 6)
= Mʹ
0+(−6)
5+0
= Mʹ
−6 Therefore, Mʹ = (-6 , 5)
5
= Mʹ
 Enlargement
A geometric enlargement can be described as a dilation or an expansion. It is the expansion
of an object from a centre of enlargement.
There are two conditions necessary for an enlargement to occur.
- A given point as the centre of enlargement
- A scale factor
There are two types of enlargement:
- POSITIVE enlargement occurs when the scale factor is positive
- NEGATIVE enlargement occurs when the scale factor is negative

Scale Factor (e) = new length e2 = new Area

old length old Area

𝑒 0
Matrix for enlargement =
0 𝑒
Positive Enlargement
y Scale Factor = 2 and centre of enlargement is the origin

12
11
Aʹ
10 NOTE:
9 - In a positive enlargement the object
8 and its image are on the same side of
7 the centre of enlargement.
6
IMAGE
5 A
- The orientation is still the same.
4 Bʹ
3
OBJECT
2
B
1
C
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 x
-1
Negative Enlargement
Scale Factor = -2 and centre of enlargement is the origin
y A
4
3
OBJECT
2 B
1 NOTE:
C
-10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 - In a negative enlargement the
x
-1 object and its image are on the
-2 opposite sides of the centre of
-3 enlargement.
Bʹ -4

-5
- The orientation is flipped or
IMAGE -6
inverted.
-7
-8
-9
-10
Aʹ
Combined Transformations
- If a reflection is followed by a translation, this combined transformation is called a
GLIDE REFLECTION

Inverse Transformations
(where M is a transformation matrix)

Double Transformations

Then the combined transformation which produces A onto Aʹʹ is called the transformation
M followed by N = N × M
May 2018 #10 (a)
May 2015 # 6(b)
Jan 2018 #6
Jan 2015 #5