Common Core State Standards

9-4 Compositions of G-CO.B.6  Use geometric descriptions of rigid motions

to transform figures and to predict the effect of a given
rigid motion on a given figure . . . Also G-CO.A.5
Isometries MP 1, MP 3, MP 6

Objectives To find compositions of isometries, including glide reflections

To classify isometries

The blue E is a horizontal translation of the red E. How can you use
two reflections, one after the other, to move the red E to the position
of the blue E? Copy the figure exactly as shown and draw in the two
lines of reflection. Explain how you found the lines.
Can you find more
than one way?
Which way is the
most efficient?

MATHEMATICAL
PRACTICES

In the Solve It, you looked for a way to use two reflections to produce the same image as
Lesson
Vocabulary a given horizontal translation. In this lesson, you will learn that any rigid motion can be
• glide reflection expressed as a composition of reflections.
• isometry
The term isometry means same distance. An isometry is a transformation that preserves
distance, or length. So, translations, reflections, and rotations are isometries.

Essential Understanding  You can express all isometries as compositions of

reflections.
Expressing isometries as compositions of reflections depends on the following theorem.

Theorem 9-1
The composition of two or more isometries is an isometry.

There are only four kinds of isometries.

Translation Rotation Reflection Glide Reflection

R R R R
R

R RR R
Orientations are the same. Orientations are opposite.
You will learn about glide reflections later in the lesson.

570 Chapter 9  Transformations

hsm11gmse_0906_t09573.ai
 In Lesson 9-1, you learned that a composition of transformations is a combination of
two or more transformations, one performed after the other.

Theorem 9-2  Reflections Across Parallel Lines

A composition of reflections across two parallel lines is
A B
a translation.
B
You can write this composition as C
(Rm ∘ R/)(△ABC) = △A″B″C″
or Rm(R/(△ABC)) = △A″B″C″. A
C A B
AA″, BB″, and CC″ are all perpendicular to lines / and m. 
m C

Problem 1 Composing Reflections Across Parallel Lines m

geom12_se_ccs_c09l04_t01.ai
What is (Rm ∘ RO)( J)? What is the distance of the resulting 
translation?
As you do the two reflections, keep track of the distance moved
by a point P of the preimage.
J
Step 1 Reflect J across . PA  AP, so PP  2AP.
How do you know
that PA ∙ AP∙,
m
< >∙ BP ∙, and
P∙B
AB ⊥ O? 
All three statements are Step 2 Reflect the image across m.
PB  BP, so PP  2PB.
J
true by the definition of
reflection across a line.
J
P A
P B
J
P
geom12_se_ccs_c09l04_t06.ai

P moved a total distance of 2AP  2PB, or 2AB.

#
< > red arrow shows the translation. The total distance P moved is 2 AB. Because
The
AB # /, AB is the distance between / and m. The distance of the translation is twice the
distance between / and m.
geom12_se_ccs_c09l04_t07.ai
Got It?
1. a. Draw parallel lines / and m as in Problem 1. Draw J between / and m.
What is the image of (Rm ∘ R/)(J)? What is the distance of the resulting
translation?
b. Reasoning  Use the results of part (a) and Problem 1. Make a conjecture
about the distance of any translation that is the result of a composition of
reflections across two parallel lines.

Lesson 9-4  Compositions of Isometries 571

 Theorem 9-3  Reflections Across Intersecting Lines
A composition of reflections across two intersecting lines is a rotation. m
C B 
C B
You can write this composition as (Rm ∘ R/)(△ABC) = △A″B″C″
A
or Rm(R/(△ABC)) = △A″B″C″. A
A
The figure is rotated about the point where the two lines intersect. In Q
B C
this case, point Q.

Problem 2 Composing Reflections Across Intersecting Lines

geom12_se_ccs_c09l04_t02.ai
Lines O and m intersect at point C and form a 70∙ angle. What is  m
(Rm ∘ RO)(J)? What are the center of rotation and the angle of rotation
for the resulting rotation?
After you do the reflections, follow the path of a point P of the preimage.
J 70

C
Step 1 Reflect J across .
m
J


P
How do you show
that mj1 ∙ mj2?
JP
1
2 3 4
J
P
Step 2 Reflect the image across m.
geom12_se_ccs_c09l04_t08.ai

If you draw PP∙ and

label its intersection C Step 3 Draw the angles formed by joining P, P, and P to C.
point with line / as A,
then PA = P′A and
PP′ # /. So, by the J is rotated clockwise about the intersection point of the lines. The center of rotation
Converse of the Angle is C. You know that m∠2 + m∠3 = 70. You can use the definition of reflection to
Bisector Theorem, show that m∠1 = m∠2 and m∠3 = m∠4. So, m∠1 + m∠2 + m∠3 + m∠4 = 140.
m∠1 = m∠2. geom12_se_ccs_c09l04_t09.ai
The angle of rotation is 140° clockwise.

Got It?
2. a. Use the diagram at the right. What is (Rb ∘ Ra )(J)? What are the b
center and the angle of rotation for the resulting rotation? a
b. Reasoning  Use the results of part (a) and Problem 2. Make
a conjecture about the center of rotation and the angle of
rotation for any rotation that is the result of any composition of J 45
C
reflections across two intersecting lines.

Any composition of isometries can be represented by either a reflection,

translation, rotation, or glide reflection. A glide reflection is the composition geom12_se_ccs_c09l04_t010.ai
of a translation (a glide) and a reflection across a line parallel to the direction
of translation. You can map a left paw print onto a right paw print with a
glide reflection.

572 Chapter 9  Transformations hsm11gmse_0906_t14038

 Problem 3 Finding a Glide Reflection Image E y
Coordinate Geometry  What is (Rx∙0 ∘ T60, ∙57)(△TEX)? T 2
X x
4 2 O 1

• The vertices of △TEX
• The translation rule
• The line of reflection
The image of First use the translation rule to
△TEX for the glide translate △TEX. Then reflect the
reflection translation image of each vertex across
hsm11gmse_0906_t09571.ai
the line of reflection.

E y
T 2
X x
Use the translation rule
4 O 2 4 Reflect the image of TEX
T<0, 5> (TEX) to move E across the line x  0.
TEX down 5 units.
T
X

Got It?
3. Graph △TEX from Problem 3. What is the image of △TEX for the glide
reflection (Ry = -2 ∘ T61, 07)(△TEX)?
geom12_se_ccs_c09l04_t011.ai

Lesson Check
MATHEMATICAL
Do you know HOW? Do you UNDERSTAND? PRACTICES
Copy the diagrams below. Sketch the image of Z 4. Vocabulary  In a glide reflection, what is the relationship
reflected across line a, then across line b. between the direction of the translation and the line of
reflection?
1.
Z a
2.

Z
a
5. Error Analysis  You reflect △DEF first across line m
and then across line n. Your friend says you can get
65 b
b the same result by reflecting △DEF first across line n
C
and then across line m. Explain your friend’s error.

n
3. △PQR has vertices P(0, 5), Q(5, 3), and R(3, 1). What
hsm11gmse_0906_t09413.ai
are the vertices of the image of △PQR for the glide
E
reflection (Ry = -2 ∘ T63, -17)(△PQR)?
hsm11gmse_0906_t09414.ai
F
D
m

hsm11gmse_0906_t09415.ai

Lesson 9-4  Compositions of Isometries 573

 MATHEMATICAL
Practice and Problem-Solving Exercises PRACTICES

A
Practice Find the image of each letter after the transformation Rm ∘ RO . Is the See Problems 1 and 2.
resulting transformation a translation or a rotation? For a translation,
describe the direction and distance. For a rotation, tell the center of
rotation and the angle of rotation.

F M
6.
7.  8. m

T

m
m 

9.
10. 11. m
m C
85 
hsm11gmse_0906_t06811.ai
N
C 60
hsm11gmse_0906_t06813.ai

L 
V
hsm11gmse_0906_t06812.ai 75
C

 m

Graph △PNB and its image after the given y See Problem 3.
transformation. hsm11gmse_0906_t06815.ai
P
2
12. hsm11gmse_0906_t06814.ai
(R y=3 ∘ T62, 07)(△PNB) hsm11gmse_0906_t06816.ai
O x
(Rx=0 ∘ T60, -37)(△PNB)
13. 2 2
N
(Ry=0 ∘ T62, 27)(△PNB)
14. B

(Ry=x ∘ T6-1, 17)(△PNB)

15.

B Apply Use the given points and lines. Graph AB and its image A∙B ∙ after a reflection
first across O1 and then across O2 . Is the resulting transformation a translation
hsm11gmse_0906_t06817.ai
or a rotation? For a translation, describe the direction and distance. For a
rotation, tell the center of rotation and the angle of rotation.
A(1, 5) and B(2, 1); /1: x = 3; /2: x = 7
16. 17. A(2, 4) and B(3, 1); /1 : x-axis; /2 : y-axis
A( -4, -3) and B( -4, 0); /1: y = x; /2: y = -x
18. 19. A(2, -5) and B( -1, -3); /1: y = 0; /2: y = 2
A(6, -4) and B(5, 0); /1: x = 6; /2: x = 4
20. 21. A( -1, 0) and B(0, -2); /1: y = -1; /2: y = 1

Think About a Plan  Let A′ be the point (1, 5). If (Ry=1 ∘ T63, 07)(A) = A′,
22.
then what are the coordinates of A?
• How can you work backwards to find the coordinates of A?
• Should A be to the left or to the right of A′?
• Should A be above or below A′?

574 Chapter 9  Transformations

 Describe the isometry that maps the black figure onto the blue figure.
23.
y 24. y
4
3
2
O x x
O 1
3 1 1 4 2
2
3

25. Which transformation maps the black triangle y

onto the blue triangle?
2
hsm11gmse_0906_t06818.ai
Rx=2 ∘ T60, -37 hsm11gmse_0906_t06819.ai
x
4 2 O 2
r(180°, O)
2
Ry = - 21
r(180°, O) ∘ Rx-axis 4

Writing  Reflections and glide reflections are odd isometries, while translations and
26.
rotations are even isometries. Use what you have learned in this lesson to explain
why these categories make sense.
hsm11gmse_0906_t09421.ai
Open-Ended  Draw △ABC. Describe a reflection, a translation, a rotation, and
27.
a glide reflection. Then draw the image of △ABC for each transformation.
Reasoning  The definition states that a glide reflection is the composition of a
28.
translation and a reflection. Explain why these can occur in either order.

Identify each mapping as a translation, reflection, rotation, or glide reflection.

Write the rule for each translation, reflection, rotation, or glide reflection. For
glide reflections, write the rule as a composition of a translation and a
reflection.
△ABC S △EDC
29.
△EDC S △PQM
30. y
△MNJ S △EDC
31. D G K N
4
△HIF S △HGF
32.
2
△PQM S △JLM
33. A F H J M P
△MNP S △EDC
34. C E O 1 7x
2
△JLM S △MNJ
35.
△PQM S △KJN
36. 4
B I L Q
△KJN S △ABC
37.
△HGF S △KJN
38.

hsm11gmse_0906_t09423.ai
Lesson 9-4  Compositions of Isometries 575
 C Challenge 39. Describe a glide reflection that maps the black R to the blue R.

Reasoning  Does an x° rotation about a point P followed by a

40.
R
reflection across a line / give the same image as a reflection

R
across / followed by an x° rotation about P? Explain.

ANC
RM
E
PERFO

TASK

Apply What You’ve Learned

MATHEMATICAL
PRACTICES
hsm11gmse_0906_t09422.ai
MP 3
Look back at the information about the video game on page 543 and review the
requirements of Case 1 and Case 2. The graph of the puzzle piece and target
area is shown again below.
y
A B 4

2
C x
4 2 O 2 4
F E
2
D
4

In the Apply What You’ve Learned sections in Lessons 9-2 and 9-3, you explored
how various translations, reflections, and rotations move the puzzle piece. Now
you will think about how to use a composition of transformations to move the
puzzle piece to the target area.
a.
Explain why any composition of transformations that moves the puzzle piece to the
target area must include a reflection.
b.
Explain why you must use at least two transformations to move the puzzle piece to
the target area.
c.
Case 2 does not allow reflections across vertical or horizontal lines. Consider the
position of Ry=x (△DEF). What is the relationship of Ry=x (△DEF) to △ABC?

576 Chapter 9  Transformations