ROTATION OF AXES

• Transformation of axes by rotating the original

axes through an angle about the origin is
called a rotation of axes.
• Coordinates of P in the original and new axes

• Using the sum angle identities

x  x cos   y sin 
(1)
y  x sin   y cos 
Example
• Transform the equation

x  y 9  0
2 2

By rotating the axes through 450.

• When =450, from (1);
x  x cos   y sin 
x  x cos 45  y sin 45
0 0

 1   1 
x  x   y 
 2  2
x y
x 
2 2
x y
y 
2 2
• Substitute to our given equation

x  y 9  0
2 2

2 2
 x y    x y 
      9  0
 2 2  2 2

x 2 y  2 x 2 y2
 xy    xy  9  0
2 2 2 2

2 xy  9
450
Example2:
• Find the acute angle of rotation such that the
transformed equation
2 x 2  3 xy  y 2  8

Will have no x’y’ term.

300
Exercise:
Find the new equation when the axes are rotated
through the given angle.
x 2  3 xy  2 y 2  3   arc tan 3

Quiz
Find the angle of rotation such that the
transformed equation will have no x’y’ term.
x 2  3xy  x  y  0