Reflection
Geometric Transformation
A reflection can be thought of as folding or "flipping" an object over the line of reflection.
• The original object is called the pre-image, and the reflection is called the image.
• The image is usually labeled using a prime symbol, such as A'B'C'.
• An object and its reflection have the same shape and size, but the figures face in opposite
directions. The objects appear as if they are mirror reflections, with right and left reversed.
A reflection can be seen in:
Water Spion Shiny Surface
01
REFLECTION
With respect to line
Reflect over the x-axis:
When you reflect a point across the x-axis, the x-coordinate
remains the same, but the y-coordinate is transformed into its
opposite (its sign is changed).
If you forget the rules for reflections when graphing, simply fold
your paper along the x-axis (the line of reflection) to see where
the new figure will be located.
Or you can measure how far your points are away from the x-
axis to locate the new points, such as B is 4 vertical units above
the x-axis, so B' will be 4 vertical units below the x-axis.
The reflection of the point (x,y) across
the x-axis is the point (x,-y).
Reflect over the y-axis:
When you reflect a point across the y-axis, the y-coordinate
remains the same, but the x-coordinate is transformed into its
opposite (its sign is changed).
Notice that B is 5 horizontal units to the right of the y-axis, and
B' is 5 horizontal units to the left of the y-axis.
The reflection of the point (x,y) across
the y-axis is the point (-x,y).
Reflect over the y = x:
When you reflect a point across the line y = x, the x-coordinate
and y-coordinate change places. If you reflect over the line y = -
x, the x-coordinate and y-coordinate change places and are
negated (the signs are changed).
The reflection of the point (x,y) across
the line y = x is the point (y, x).
The reflection of the point (x,y) across
the line y = -x is the point (-y, -x).
Reflect over any line:
Remember that each point of a reflected image is the same
distance from the line of reflection as the corresponding point of
the original figure. The line of reflection will lie directly in the
middle between the original figure and its image.
Notice that each point of the original figure
and its image are the same distance away
from the line of reflection. You may be able to
simply "count" these distances on the grid.
02
REFLECTION
With respect to a Point:
A point reflection exists when a figure is built
around a single point called the center of the
figure, or point of reflection. For every point in
the figure, there is another point found directly
opposite it on the other side of the center such that
the point of reflection becomes the midpoint of the
segment joining the point with its image. Under a
point reflection, figures do not change size or
shape.
While any point in the coordinate plane may be
used as a point of reflection, the most commonly
used point is the origin. Assume that the origin is
the point of reflection unless told otherwise.
Reflect in origin (0,0):
Triangle A'B'C' is the image of triangle ABC
after a point reflection in the origin.
Imagine a straight line connecting A to A'
where the origin is the midpoint of the segment.
When you reflect a point in the origin, both the
x-coordinate and the y-coordinate are negated
(their signs are changed).
In a point reflection in the origin, the image
of the point (x,y) is the point (-x,-y).
03
REFLECTION
With respect to Lines Parallel
to Axes
We will discuss here how to solve the problems on reflection in lines parallel to axes (x = a or y = b).
The coordinates of the points P and Q are (5, -4) and (-2, 10) respectively.
(i) Find the point P’ and Q’onto which the points P and Q map on reflection in the line AB which is parallel to
the x-axis and is at a distance 3 on the positive side of the y-axis.
(ii) Find the point P” and Q”onto which the points P and Q map on reflection in the line CD which is parallel
to the y-axis and is at a distance 3 on the negative side of the x-axis.
Solution:
(i) We know that the image of the point (x, y) in the line parallel to the x-axis and at a distance a from the x-
axis in the positive side of the y-axis is the point (x, -y + 2a). Here, a = 3 and the coordinates of P are (5, -4).
So, the coordinates of P’ are (5, -(-4) + 2 × 3), i.e., (5, 10). The coordinates of Q are (-2, 10). So the
coordinates of Q’ are (-2, -10 + 2 × 3), i.e., (-2, -4).
(ii) We know that the image of the point (x, y) in the line parallel to the y-axis and at a distance a from the y-
axis in the negative side of the x-axis is the point (-x + 2a, y). Here, the coordinates of P are (5, -4) and a = -3.
So, the coordinates of P” are (-5 + 2 (-3), -4), i.e., (-11, -4). The coordinates of Q are (-2, 10). So the
coordinates of Q” are (2 + 2(-3), 10), i.e., (-4, 10).
04
REFLECTION
on a point respect to line y = x
and y = - x
Reflection on a point
Let P (x, y) reflected about the line y = x respect to line y=x
thus obtained shadow point P '(x', y '). The
equation transforms with respect to the line
y = x is determined by the relationship:
x '= y
y '= x
Written :
Reflection on a point
Let P (x, y) reflected about the line respect to line y = -x
y = -x in order to obtain the shadow point P
'(x', y '). The equation for the transformation
of the line y = - x is determined by the
relationship:
x‘ = -y
y‘ = -x
Written :
Example
05
REFLECTION
of a Point With Respect to a
Line
Reflection of a Point With Respect to a Line
Example
06
COMPOSITION
of Reflection:
Reflection of a Point With Respect to Parallel Lines
Let P (x, y) reflected about the line x = h in
order to obtain the shadow point P '(x', y ').
The equation for the transformation of the line
x = h is determined by the relationship:
x '= 2a -x
y '= y
Written :
Example
Reflection of a Point With Respect to Intersection Lines
Let A (x, y) reflected about the line x = h and y
= k in order to obtain the shadow point P '(x', y
'). :
x '= 2h - x
y '= 2k - x
Written :
Example
Exercises
1. Point A (3 , 6) reflects to the y-axis, so the A’?
2. Point N (-3 , 2) reflects to the x-axis, so the N’?
3. Point I (5 , -3) reflects to line y = x, so the I’?
4. Point K (5 , 7) reflects to line x = 3, so point K’?
5. Point E (-2 , -5) reflects to line y = -3, so point E’?
6. Point Q (5 , 8) reflects to origin, so point Q’?
Key Answers
1.(-3 , 6)
Key Answers
2. (-3 , -2)
Key Answers
3.(-3 , 5)
Key Answers
4.(1 , 7)
Key Answers
5.(-2 , -1)
Key Answers
6.(-5 , -8)
Thanks
Any question?
