Chapters 1.3, 2.3 and 2.11. Transformations of Geometrical Shapes.

In these chapters we will study the following transformations:

1. Translations
2. Reflections
3. Rotations of 90o , 180o and 270o
4. Combinations of transformations
5. Lines of symmetry and rotational symmetry.
The transformations 1, 2 and 3 are transformations which preserve the shape and the size of
the original object, such that the transformed object is congruent with the original object, only
its location and possibly its orientation is changed.

1. Translations:
Look at the following figure:

In this figure the image object is a translation of the original object by units horizontally
and by units vertically .
Similarly, in the following figure:

The image object B is a translation of the original object A by by units horizontally

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and by units vertically .
Note: In general, the translation of a point P(x, y) by a units horizontally and by b units
vertically is a point Q (x+a, y+b) .
Sometimes we say that P is translated by the vector (a,b).
To translate an object (such as a triangle or another shape), translate first its vertices by the
formula above, then connect the vertices accordingly.
Exercise:
1. (3.3 Book 1):
Translate the object according to the directions given below. Show the image object
on this same grid.

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2.

3.

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II. Reflections:
Reflections are met all around us. See for example the following pictures:

and

Or the following diagram for a more precise mathematical reflection:

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Note:
In general, a reflection of a point P(x,y) across the y axis is simply the point Q(-x,y) .
If the line of reflection is a generic line L, then find the reflected point Q such that L is the
perpendicular bisector of  PQ  . Then to reflect an entire shape, we reflect the vertices of
the shapes using the rule above, and then connect the vertices accordingly.
Exercise:
1. Work the following exercises involving reflections (Book 1: exercises 3.1 A and 3.1 B):
The object and the mirror line is given. Draw the image of the original shape.

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2. The object and its reflected image are given. Draw the position of the mirror line:

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3. Draw the position of any mirror line(s) on the following shapes:

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4. Cambridge checkpoint specimen paper:
Look at the diagram below:

a) Write down the coordinates of the point B B ( …….. , ………)

b)

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III. Rotations:
Look at the following figures:

In each of them , the object A is rotated 90o or 180o about the center of rotation O to
create the image object B. We also see that we have clockwise (left to right) or anti-
clockwise (right to left) rotations. An 90o clock-wise rotation is an _____ anti-clock-wise
rotation (and vice-versa).

Note:
The image of a point P (x, y) through a clockwise 90o rotation about the origin is the
point Q ( y , - x) .

The image of a point P (x, y) through a clockwise 180o rotation about the origin is the
point Q ( -x , - y) .

The image of a point P (x, y) through a clockwise 270o rotation about the origin is the
point Q ( - y , x) .

To rotate an entire shape (such as a triangle, etc), we rotate its vertices according to
the rule above, and then connect its vertices accordingly.

Exercise:
1. Verify this coordinates properties for the vertices in the 3 Examples above.

Another interesting property for a rotation of a point P clockwise 90o about origin to a
point Q is that the angle between OP and OQ is 90o . Similarly for other angles.

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Exercise: (Exercise 3.2 C):
2. Perform the following rotations as stated:

3. Perform the following rotation. You can use tracing paper if of help (from Exercise
11.2 A Book 2)

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4. (Specimen paper).
Consider again the triangle in the figure:

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 a) Write down the coordinates of the point B B (……, …….)
b)

IV. Combining transformations:

All of the transformations we have done so far have been carried out as a single
transformation. However, it is possible to combine transformations, so that an object
undergoes more than one transformation to map it to an image.
The order in which the transformations are carried out affect where the image appear (for
example a rotation first followed by a translation after will give a different final image from
same translation first followed by the same rotation).

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Exercise:
1. Do the following combined transformation as indicated. Pay attention to each step:

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V. Lines of symmetry and rotational symmetry:
We already saw on page 7 (problem 3) of this guide that some shapes have certain lines of
symmetry (also called mirror lines or reflection lines) which can be drawn.

In addition, if an object has rotational symmetry, then the image of the object after a rotation
(by a certain angle about the center of the object O) will look identical to the object more than
once during a full rotation of 360o . The number of times an object looks the same (with the
original) in a complete rotation is known as the order of rotational symmetry.
It turns out that for a regular polygon the number of lines of symmetry N and the order of
rotational symmetry coincide for N  2 .
Examples:
1. This equilateral triangle has a rotational symmetry of order 3, as
in one complete rotation it looks the same 3 times .

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 2. All shapes have rotational symmetry at least of order 1, because
any shape (such as this shown here) will look the same after a
full rotation of 360o . So a shape which has a rotational
symmetry of order 1 only is considered not to have a rotational
symmetry at all.

Exercise:
1. Determine the order of rotational symmetry for the following shapes:

a) A rectangle: rotational symmetry of order

b) A rudder (fan) : Rotational symmetry of order

c) This shape has a rotational symmetry of order

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2.

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