AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 7 Transformations

1. BASIC KNOWLEDGE

The Euclidean transformations are the most commonly used transformations.

An Euclidean transformation is either a translation, a rotation, or a reflection. In
an Euclidian transformations, lengths and angles are preserved.

Rotation means turning around a center. The distance from the center to any
point on the shape stays the same. Every point makes
a circle around the center.

Reflection

A transformation that creates a mirror image of a figure; a flip. Reflection has the
same size as the original image. The central line is
called the mirror line. Mirror lines can be in any
direction.

Translation

A transformation in which every point of a figure moves an equal distance in the

same direction; a slide.

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AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 7 Transformations

Translation simply means moving without rotating, resizing or anything else, just
moving. To translate a figure, every point of the shape must move the same
distance in the same direction.

When the transformations are done in a coordinate system, it is called the

coordinate system transformation.

In this lecture, we will classify the transformations problems in AMC 8 or

Mathcounts by two types: the coordinate system transformation, and the
geometric objects transformation.

2. THE COORDINATE SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION

(1). P( x0 , y0 ) is a point. The image of P under reflections:

(a). In the xaxis ( x0 , y0 )

(b). In the yaxis ( x0 , y0 )

(c). In the line x = a (2a  x0 , y0 )

(d). In the line y = a ( x0 ,2a  y0 )

(e). In the line y = x ( y0 , x0 )

(f). In the line y = x ( y0 , x0 )

(g). In the line y = x + m ( y0  m, x0  m)

(h). In the line y =  x + n (n  y0 , n  x0 )

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AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 7 Transformations

(i). In the point A(a, b) (2a  x0 ,2b  y0 )

 x0  x1 y  y1
A   B 0 C 0
(j). In the line Ax + By +C = 0 ( x1 , y1 ) :  2 2

 A( y0  y1 )  B( x0  x1 )

The figures for (a) to (f) are shown below using a sample point P(4,3).

(a) (b) (c)

(d) (e) (f)

(2). The reflection of the line Ax + By +C = 0 in the point P(a, b):

Ax + By – (2aA + 2bB +C) = 0

Example 1. What are the coordinates of the point which is the reflection in the y-
axis of the point whose coordinates are (5, – 3)?
(A) ( – 5, – 3) (B) ( 5, – 3) (C) ( – 3, 5) (D) ( 5, 3) (E) ( 3, – 5)

Solution: A.

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AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 7 Transformations

We know that by (1) (b), for point P( x0 , y0 ) , the image of P under reflections in
the yaxis is ( x0 , y0 ) . So the coordinates of the point are ( – 5, – 3).

Example 2. If the point whose coordinates are ( – 5, 3) is reflected about the line
y  2 , what are the coordinates of its image?
(A) ( – 5, – 7) (B) ( 5, – 7) (C) ( – 7, 5) (D) ( 5, 7) (E) ( 7, – 5)

Solution: A.
We know that by (1) (d), for point P( x0 , y0 ) , the image of P under reflections in
the line y = a is ( x0 ,2a  y0 ) . The answer is [ – 5, 2  (− 2) – 3], or (– 5, – 7).

Example 3. The point (5, 3) is reflected about the line x  2 . The image point is
then reflected about the line y  2. The resulting point is (a, b). Compute a + b.
(A) 1 (B) 0 (C) 2 (D) 4 (E) 8

Solution: B.
We know that by (1) (c), for point (5, 3), the image under reflections in the line x
= a is (2a  x0 , y0 ) , or (2  2 – 5, 3), or (– 1, 3).

We know that by (1) (d), for point (– 1, 3), the image under reflections in the line
y = a is ( x0 ,2a  y0 ) . The answer is ( – 1, 2  2 − 3), or (– 1, 1). So the answer is
1 – 1 = 0.

Example 4. What is the y-coordinate of the image when (5, 3) is reflected over
the line y  x ?
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 5 (D) 8 (E) 1

Solution: C.
We know that by (1) (e), for point P( x0 , y0 ) , the image of P under reflections in
the line y = x is ( y0 , x0 ) , or (3, 5).

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AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 7 Transformations

The y-coordinate of the image is 5.

Example 5. When the point (– 3, – 4) is reflected about the line y   x , what is

the y-coordinate of its image?
(A) 4 (B) 3 (C) – 4 (D) – 3 (E) – 7

Solution: B.
We know that by (1) (f), for point P( x0 , y0 ) , the image of P under reflections in
the y = x is ( y0 , x0 ) . So the coordinates of the image are (4, 3) and the y-
coordinate is 3.

Example 6. The graph of the parabola y  x 2  2 is reflected with respect to the

line y   x . Write the equation of the resulting graph.

Solution: x  y 2  2 .
We know that by (1) (f), for point P( x0 , y0 ) , the image of P(2, 4) under
reflections in the y = x is ( y0 , x0 ) .
y  x 2  2 will becomes ( x)  ( y) 2  2  x  y2  2 .

Example 7. The points (2, 3) and (5, 1) are reflected over the y -axis. Find the
number of square units in the area of the quadrilateral whose vertices are the
points and their images.
(A) 4 (B) 6 (C) 8
(D) 14 (E) 28

Solution: D.
We know that by (1) (b), for point
P( x0 , y0 ) , the image of P under reflections
in the yaxis is ( x0 , y0 ) .

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AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 7 Transformations

So the coordinates of the images of the points (2, 3) and (5, 1) are (2, 3) and (5,
1).
(4  10)  2
The area of the quadrilateral is  14 .
2

Example 8. The triangle with vertices at A( – 2, 2), B( – 8, 2), and C( – 8, – 1) is

reflected about the line y  2 x  1 . Express the coordinates of the reflection of A
as an ordered pair.
(A) ( – 2, 0) (B) ( 0, – 2) (C) ( – 2, 8) (D) ( 2, – 2) (E) (2, 0)

Solution: E.
We know that by (1) (j), for point P( x0 , y0 ) , the image of P under reflections in
 x0  x1 y  y1
A   B 0 C 0
the line Ax + By +C = 0 is ( x1 , y1 ) :  2 2 .

 A( y0  y1 )  B( x0  x1 )
The line y  2 x  1 can be written as 2 x  y  1  0 .
  2  x1 2  y1
2   (1)  1  0  x1  2 y1  2  x1  2 y1  2
 2 2    
 2 x1  y1  4 4 x1  2 y1  8
2(2  y1 )  1(2  x1 )

Solving we get x1 = 2 and y1 = 0.

So the coordinates of A are (2, 0).

3. THE GEOMETRIC OBJECTS TRANSFORMATION

Figure reflection theorem

If a figure is determined by certain points, then its reflection image is the

corresponding figure determined by the reflection images of those points.

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AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 7 Transformations

The perpendicular bisector theorem

If a point is on the perpendicular bisector of a segment, then it is equidistant from

the endpoints of the segment.
Given: P is on the perpendicular bisector m of the
segment AB. Prove: PA = PB.

Proof:
PBA = PAB = 90, BH = AH, PH = PH  PHA 
PHB  PA =PB

The reflection image of point A over the line m is the

point B if and only if m is the perpendicular bisector of segment AB.

Segment symmetry theorem

A segment has exactly two symmetry lines:

(1) Its perpendicular bisector
(2) The line containing the segment.

Angle symmetry theorem

The line containing the bisector of an angle is a symmetry line of the angle.

Summary of two important properties:

(1) The symmetric line of a shape separates the shape into two congruent parts.
(2) The symmetric line is the perpendicular bisector of the line segment
connecting two symmetric points.

☆Example 9. Which of the five “T-like shapes” would be symmetric to the one
shown with respect to the dashed line?

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AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 7 Transformations

Solution: C.
Two figures are symmetric with respect to a line if the figures coincide when the
paper is folded along that line.

Example 10. Square ABCD is rotated 90 clockwise about its center, and
reflected over a diagonal line determined by lower left and
upper right vertices. The square is then reflected over a
horizontal line through the center. What point now
corresponds to the position originally occupied by B?

Solution: D.

Example 11. A regular pentagon is rotated d clockwise around its center until it
coincides with its original image. What is the smallest positive measure of
degrees in d?
(A) 30 (B) 45 (C) 60 (D) 72 (E) 108

Solution: D.

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AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 7 Transformations

Example 12. How many lines of symmetry does a square have?

Solution: 4 (lines).

☆Example 13. How many of the eighteen pentominoes pictured below have at
least one line of symmetry?
(A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 6 (E) 7

Solution: (D).
Exactly six have at least one line of symmetry. They are:

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AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 7 Transformations

Example 14. Rectangle ABCD is folded along line EF so that point B falls on
point D. If AD = 6 and AB = 8, find the length of the crease EF .
15 5 15 5 1
(A) (B) 5 (C) (D) (E) 11
4 8 2 2 4

Solution: C.
BC FO
BCD  FOD   (1)
DC DO
BCD is a 6-8-10 right triangle. So BD = 10.

6 FO 30 60 15
  FO   EF  2 FO   .
8 5 8 8 2

Example 15. In the figure shown, ABCD is a square piece of paper 6 cm on each
side. Corner C is folded over so that it coincides with E, the
midpoint of AD . If GF represents the crease created by
the fold, what is the length of FD ?
3 5
(A) 4/9 (B) 9/4 (C) 3/2 (D) 7/4 (E)
2

Solution: B.
Connect CE.
GF is the symmetric line (perpendicular bisector of the line
segment CE).
Applying Pythagorean Theorem to CDE:
ED 2  CD 2  CE 2  32  62  CE 2
3 5
 CE  3 5  CH  .
2
We see that CDE  CHF.

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AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 7 Transformations

CD CE 6 3 5 9
So we have     x .
CH CF 3 5 6 x 4
2
Example 16. A rectangular sheet of paper measures 12" by 9". One corner is
folded onto the diagonally opposite corner and the paper is creased. What is the
length in inches of the crease?
5 1
(A) 5 (B) 15/2 (C) 9/2 (D) 5/4 (E) 11
8 4

Solution: E.
Method 1:
Connect BD and call the intersection point of BD and
EF at O.
We know that EF is the perpendicular bisector of BD
and EO = FO．
Since AB = 9, BC = 12, so BD = 15 and BO = 15/2
．
△BOF∽△BCD (because two angles are the same),
15
OF BO OF
so  . Then  2 and OF = 45/8.
CD BC 9 12
1
EF = 2 × 45/8 = 45/4 = 11 .
4

Method 2:
Draw FG⊥AD，
△FEG∽△DBA.
EF BD
 . From here, we can solve for EF.
FG AD
BD 15 1
EF   FG   9  11 .
AD 12 4

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AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 7 Transformations

Method 3:
Connect BD, BD = 15 and draw CG//FE, with G on AD.
EFCG is a parallelogram, so CG = FE.
∠GCD =∠BDA, so △CGD∽△DBA.
CG CD CG 9
 , so  .
BD AD 15 12
15 1
CG  EF   9  11 .
12 4

Method 4:
Draw BD (BD = 15). So that it meets EF at O.
EF is the perpendicular bisector of BD.
BD = 15, OD = 15/2 . Let ∠ADB = .
Right triangle ADB  tan  = AB/AD = 9/12 = 3/4.
Right triangle EOD tan  = OE/OD = OE/(15/2) =
2OE/15.
3 2OE 1
So  . OE = OF, and EF = 2 OF = 45/4 = 11 .
4 15 4

Method 5:
Connect BD, BE, DF.
Quadrilateral BEDF is a rhombus. The area of the
1
rhombus is EF  BD  DE  CD ,
2
BE = AB + AE2 = AB2 + (AD – DE)2.
2 2

i.e. DE 2  92  (12  DE) 2 or DE = 75/8.

1 75 1
EF  15   9 , or EF = 45/4 = 11 .
2 8 4

Method 6:
The area of triangle EFD is equal to ECD, so we can
say
EF  OD CD  ED
  EF OD=DE CD.
2 2

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AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 7 Transformations

75
9
DE  CD 45 1
Thus EF   8   11 .
OD 15 4 4
2

Method 7:
We also can find DE using the following method:
B, A, E, and O are on the same circle because
 A +  O = 180. So,
DE  DA = DO  DB,
15
 15
DO  DB 2 75
DE    .
DA 12 8
1
Then we get EF  11 .
4

Method 8: As shown in the figure to the right,

x 2  92  (12  x) 2
Solving for x, x = 21/8.
Using the Pythagorean theorem again for triangle
DEO to get EO:
15 21 45
OE 2  ( ) 2  (12  ) 2  OE 
2 8 8
45 1
2EO =EF, so EF   11 .
4 4

Example 17. A rectangular paper is folded along an axis of symmetry as shown.

The shape of the resulting figure is similar to the
shape of the original figure. Find x.
(A) 10 (B) 5 (C) 2 (D) 3 2 (E) 5 2

Solution: E.
x 10
Case 1:   5  10 (ignored)
x 5

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AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 7 Transformations

10 x
Case 2:   x5 2.
x 5

Example 18. A wire is wrapped around a cylinder forming a helix as in the

picture. If the wire only goes around the cylinder once, and the height and
diameter of the cylinder are both 10 cm, find the length of the wire in
simplest radical form.
(A) 10 1   2 (B) 10 (C) 20 1   2
(D)  10 (E) 10

Solution: A.
Since the cylinder vertically with a single cut
extending from one end of the wire to the other,
Unfold the cylinder. The flat unfolded cylinder is a
rectangle of height 10 cm and width 10 cm.
AC  102  (10 ) 2  10 1   2 .

☆Example 19. A white cylindrical silo has a diameter of 20 feet and a height of
60 feet. A red stripe with a horizontal width of 3 feet is painted on the
silo, as shown, making two complete revolutions around it. What is
the area of the stripe in square feet?
(A) 120 (B) 180 (C) 240 (D) 160 (E) 480

Solution: B.
If the stripe were cut from the silo and spread flat, it would form a
parallelogram 3 feet wide and 60 feet high. So the area of the stripe is 3(60) = 180
square feet.

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AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 7 Transformations

Example 20. A 5 inch by 8 inch rectangular piece of paper can be rolled up to

form either of two right circular cylinders, a cylinder with a height of 8 inches or
a cylinder with a height of 5 inches. What is the ratio of the volume of the 8 inch
tall cylinder to the volume of the 5 inch tall cylinder?
5
(A) 5/8 (B) 9/4 (C) 3/2 (D) 7/4 (E)
2

Solution: A.
1 5 1 8
We know that V1    ( ) 2  8 and V2    ( ) 2  5 .
3 2 3 2
1 5
  ( )2  8
V1 3 2 5
  .
V2 1   ( 8 ) 2  5 8
3 2

☆Example 21. Rectangle PQRS lies in a plane with PQ = RS = 3 and QR = SP =

4. The rectangle is rotated 90 clockwise about R, then rotated 90 clockwise
about the point that S moved to after the first rotation. What is the length of the
path traveled by point P ?
9
(A) ( 2  5 ) (B) 6 (C)  (D) ( 3  2) (E) 2 10
2

Solution: (C).

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AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 7 Transformations

Let P and S denote the positions of P and S, respectively, after the rotation about
R, and let P denote the final position of P. In the rotation that moves P to
position P, the point P rotates 90 on a circle with center R and radius PR =
1 5
32  42  5 . The length of the arc traced by P is (2  5)  . Next, P
4 2
rotates to P through a 90 arc on a circle with center S and radius S P = 4. The
1
length of this arc is (2  4)  2 .
4
5 9
The total distance traveled by P is  2   .
2 2

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