1.

Transformation and Collineations

Definition 1.1 A transformation on the plane is a one-to-one correspondence from

the set of points in the plane onto itself.

This means that, for a given transformation 𝑓, for every point 𝑃 there is a
unique point 𝑄 s.t. 𝑓(𝑃) = 𝑄 and, conversely, for every point 𝑅 there is a unique
point 𝑆 s.t. 𝑓(𝑆) = 𝑅.

Definition 1.2 A transformation 𝑓 with the property

“if 𝑙 is a line then 𝑓(𝑙) is also a line”
is called a collineation.

Note: Cartesian plane is a standard model of the Euclidean plane.

Examples:

1. The mapping 𝛼 on the Cartesian plane that sends (𝑥, 𝑦) to (𝑥 2 , 𝑦) is not a

transformation since there is no point (𝑥, 𝑦) s.t. 𝛼((𝑥, 𝑦)) = (−1, 2).

2. The mapping 𝛽 on the plane that sends (𝑥, 𝑦) to (𝑥, 𝑦 3 ) is a transformation

1
as (𝑢, 𝑣 ) is the unique point sent to (𝑢, 𝑣) for given numbers 𝑢 and 𝑣.
3

However, 𝛽 is not a collineation since the line with equation 𝑌 = 𝑋 is not

sent to a line but rather to the cubic curve with equation 𝑌 = 𝑋3 .

3. Show that the mapping 𝛾 that sends each point (𝑥, 𝑦) to the point
𝑦
(−𝑥 + , 𝑥 + 2) is a collineation.
2

𝑦
Proof: Setting 𝑢 = −𝑥 + and 𝑣 = 𝑥 + 2, we have unique solutions
2
𝑥 = 𝑣 − 2 and 𝑦 = 2𝑢 + 2𝑣 − 4 s.t. 𝛾((𝑥, 𝑦)) = (𝑢, 𝑣) for any numbers
𝑢 and 𝑣. Hence, 𝛾 is a transformation. Then, the following are equivalent
where 𝛾((𝑥, 𝑦)) = (𝑢, 𝑣):
(1) (𝑥, 𝑦) on line with equation 𝑎𝑋 + 𝑏𝑌 + 𝑐 = 0
(2) 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑐 = 0
(3) 𝑎(𝑣 − 2) + 𝑏(2𝑢 + 2𝑣 − 4) + 𝑐 = 0
(4) (2𝑏)𝑢 + (𝑎 + 2𝑏)𝑣 + (𝑐 − 4𝑏 − 2𝑎) = 0
 (5) (𝑢, 𝑣 ) on the line with equation
(2𝑏) 𝑋 + (𝑎 + 2𝑏)𝑌 + (𝑐 − 4𝑏 − 2𝑎) = 0
(6) 𝛾((𝑥, 𝑦)) on the line with equation
(2𝑏)𝑋 + (𝑎 + 2𝑏)𝑌 + (𝑐 − 4𝑏 − 2𝑎) = 0
So, the line with equation 𝑎1𝑋 + 𝑏1 𝑌 + 𝑐1 = 0 goes to the line with
equation 𝑎2 𝑋 + 𝑏2 𝑌 + 𝑐2 = 0, where 𝑎2 = 2𝑏1, 𝑏2 = 𝑎1 + 2𝑏1 and 𝑐2 = 𝑐1 −
4𝑏1 − 2𝑎1 . Hence, 𝛾 is a collineation. ∎

Some familiar Theorems/Definitions in Geometry:

1. SAS: If ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 ≅ ̅̅̅̅
𝐷𝐸 , ∠𝐴 ≅ ∠𝐷, and ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐶 ≅ ̅̅̅̅
𝐷𝐹 , then △ 𝐵𝐴𝐶 ≅ △ 𝐸𝐷𝐹.
2. ̅̅̅̅ ̅̅̅̅
ASA: If ∠𝐴 ≅ ∠𝐷, 𝐴𝐵 ≅ 𝐷𝐸 , and ∠𝐵 ≅ ∠𝐸, then △ 𝐴𝐵𝐶 ≅ △ 𝐷𝐸𝐹.
3. ̅̅̅̅ ≅ 𝐷𝐸
SAA: If 𝐴𝐵 ̅̅̅̅ , ∠𝐵 ≅ ∠𝐸 and ∠𝐶 ≅ ∠𝐹, then △ 𝐴𝐵𝐶 ≅ △ 𝐷𝐸𝐹.
4. SSS: If ̅̅̅̅
𝐴𝐵 ≅ ̅̅̅̅
𝐷𝐸 , ̅̅̅̅
𝐵𝐶 ≅ ̅̅̅̅
𝐸𝐹 and ̅̅̅̅
𝐶𝐴 ≅ ̅̅̅̅
𝐹𝐷 , then △ 𝐴𝐵𝐶 ≅ △ 𝐷𝐸𝐹.
5. (Exterior Angel Theorem) Given △ 𝐴𝐵𝐶 and 𝐵 − 𝐶 − 𝐷, then
m∠𝐴𝐶𝐷 = m∠𝐴 + m∠𝐵.
So, for △ 𝐴𝐵𝐶, we have m∠𝐴 + m∠𝐵 + m∠𝐶 = 1800 .
6. Given △ 𝐴𝐵𝐶 and △ 𝐷𝐸𝐹 such that ∠𝐴 ≅ ∠𝐷, ∠𝐵 ≅ ∠𝐸 and ∠𝐶 ≅ ∠𝐹,
then △ 𝐴𝐵𝐶~ △ 𝐷𝐸𝐹.
7. (Angle-Angle Similarity Theorem) Given △ 𝐴𝐵𝐶 and △ 𝐷𝐸𝐹 such that
∠𝐴 ≅ ∠𝐷, and ∠𝐵 ≅ ∠𝐸, then △ 𝐴𝐵𝐶~ △ 𝐷𝐸𝐹.
8. Two triangles are similar if and only if there corresponding sides are
proportional.
9. Given line 𝑙, the points of the plane are partitioned into three sets, namely
the line itself and the two halfplanes or sides of the line.
10. Pasch’s Theorem: a line 𝑙 intersecting △ 𝐴𝐵𝐶 at a point between 𝐴 and 𝐵
must intersect the triangle in at least one more point.
11. Lines 𝑙 and 𝑚 in the plane are parallel if and only if either 𝑙 = 𝑚 or else 𝑙 and
𝑚 have no point in common.
12. In planar coordinate geometry, point (𝑥, 𝑦) is on the line with equation 𝑎𝑋 +
𝑏𝑌 + 𝑐 = 0 if and only if 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑐 = 0. So point (𝑥, 𝑦) is off the line with
equation 𝑎𝑋 + 𝑏𝑌 + 𝑐 = 0 if and only if 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑐 ≠ 0.
13. Lines with equations 𝑎𝑋 + 𝑏𝑌 + 𝑐 = 0 and 𝑑𝑋 + 𝑒𝑌 + 𝑓 = 0 are parallel if
and only if 𝑎𝑒 − 𝑏𝑑 = 0 and are perpendicular if and only if 𝑎𝑑 + 𝑏𝑒 = 0.