GEOMETRICAL TRANSFORMATIONS

1. DEFINITIONS
A geometrical transformation moves an object(a point or a shape) from one position to
another. During a transformation some points will move while others may not move.
The new position is known as the image of the original object.
Those points which do not move are known as invariant points and the line on which
these points lie is the line of invariant points. At this level, there are seven types of
transformations that you are expected to know in preparation for your examinations.
These are: translation, reflection, rotation, dilatation(enlargement or reduction), stretch
and shear.
2. TRANSLATION

A translation is represented by a 2×1 column matrix or vector

T = a
b . ()
A translation is completely described by stating the column vector of T.
Finding the image under a Translation

The image of the point ( x , y) is ( x , y ) and is defined by

1 1
( ) ( ) ( ).
x1
y1
=
x
y
+
a
b
Examples

(a) Find the image of the point (3 , −2 ) under the translation

T = 6
2 . ()
(b) The image of the point (9 , −1) is (4 , 5) . Find the translation vector T.

(c) Under the translation

T = ( )
−7
5 , the image of the point A is (2 , −5 ) .
Find the coordinates of the point A.
Solutions

(a)
( ) () ()
x1
y1
=
x
y
+
a
b
(b)
( ) x1
y1
=
x
y() ()
+
a
b
(c)
( ) () ()
x1
y1
=
x
y
+
a
b

( y ) −2 2
1

1
x
=( )+ ( )
3 6
( 45 ) = (−19 ) + (ab ) (−52 ) = ( xy ) + (−75 )
( xy ) = ( 90 )
1

1
( ab ) = ( 45 ) − (−19 ) ( xy) = ( −52 ) − (−75 )
The image is (9 , 0) .
( ab ) = ( −56 ) ( xy) = ( −109 )
 ∴ T = −5
6 ( ) ∴ A is (9 , −10 )
Exercise 1

(a) Find the image of the point (8 , −4 ) under the translation

T = (54 ).
(b) The image of the point (−9, −3 ) under a translation T is (7 , 5 ) .
Find the translation vector T.

(c) Under the translation

T =
2
()
3 , the image of the point B is (2 , −5 ) . Find the
coordinates of the point B.

(d) The image of the point (0 , −1) under a translation T is (8, 8) .

Find the translation vector T.

(e) Under the translation

T =
−1
( )
4 , the image of the point C is (11 , −5 ) . Find the
coordinates of the point C.

Answers
(a) (13 , 0 ) (b) (16 , 8) (c) (0 , −8 ) (d) (8, 9) (e) (12 , −9 )
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3. REFLECTION

A reflection is completely described by giving the equation of the line of reflection.

The following table gives the matrices associated with the given line of reflection.

Line of Reflection Matrix

The line y = 0
(or the x – axis)
Mx = (10 −10 )
=(
0 1)
The line x = 0 −1 0
(or the y – axis)
My

=(
1 0)
The line y = x 0 1
M y =x
 The line y = −x M y =x = (−10 −1
0 )
Finding the image under a Reflection

The image ( x 1 , y 1 ) of the point ( x , y) under a reflection is defined by

( )
x1
y1
=M
x
y ( ),
where M is the 2×2 matrix associated with the given reflection.

Examples
(a) Find the image of the point (2 , −5 ) under reflection in
(i) the line x = 0 (ii) the line y = x

(b) The point (−2 , −8) is the image of the point Q under reflection in the line y =− x .
Find the coordinates of Q.

Solutions

(a) (i)
( ) ( )( )
x1
y1
=
−1
0
0
1
2
−5
(ii)
( ) ( )( )
x1
y1
=
0
1
1
0
2
−5

( ) ( )
x1
y1
=
−2
−5 ( ) ( )
x1
y1
=
−5
2

The image is (−2 , −5) The image is (−5 , 2)

(b)
(−2
−8 ) (−1
=
0 −1
0 )( xy ) ⇒ (−2
−8 ) ( −x )
=
−y

−2 = − y ∴ y = 2
−8 = −x ∴ x = 8
The coordinates of Q are (8, 2) .

Exercise 2
(a) Find the image of the point (2 , −5 ) under reflection in
(i) the line y = 0 (ii) the line y = −x (iii) the y – axis

(b) The point (−3 , 12) is the image of the point R under reflection in the line y = x .
Find the coordinates of R.

(c) Under a reflection in the line x = 0, the point B is mapped onto the point (−6 , 15 ) .
Find the coordinates of B.

(d) Find the image of the point (4 , −3) when it is reflected in the line y = 2.
Answers
(2 , 5) (ii ) (5 , −2) (iii ) (−2 , −5) (b ) (12 , −3) (c) (6 , 15)
(a)(i)
(d) ( 4 , −1)
4. ROTATION

A rotation is completely described by giving the centre, the angle and the
direction(clockwise or anticlockwise) of rotation.

The following table gives the matrices associated wih Rotations.

Rotation, Centre (0, 0) Matrix

90° anticlockwise
(positive quarter turn)
R+90 = ( 01 −10 )
=(
−1 0 )
90° clockwise 0 1
(negative quarter turn)
R+90

=(
0 −1 )
180° −1 0
(Half Turn)
R180

=(
−1 0 )
270° 0 1
(three quarter turn)
R
270 0

Finding the image under a Rotation

(i) When the centre is the origin (0, 0)

The image ( x 1 , y 1 ) of the point ( x , y) under a rotation, centre (0, 0), is defined by

( ) ( ) , where R is the
x1
y1
=R
x
y 2×2 matrix associated with the given rotation.

(ii) When the centre is (r, s), where r ≠ 0 and s ≠ 0

The image ( x 1 , y 1 ) of the point ( x , y) under a rotation, centre (r, s), is defined

by
( ) ( ) ( ) , where R is the
x1
y1
=R
x−r
y−s
+
r
s 2×2 matrix associated with the
 given rotation.

Finding the Centre and Angle of a Rotation

Examples

(a) Find the image of the point (4 , 1) under a 90° negative quarter turn, centre (0, 0)
(b) Find the image of the point (2 , −5 ) under a clockwise rotation, centre (2, 4).
(c) The point (−2 , −8) is the image of the point Q under an anticlockwise rotation of 90°,
centre (1, 3). Find the coordinates of Q.

Solutions

( )(
0 1 4
(a) −1 0 1
) =( )
1
−4 (b)
( 0 −1
1 )( 2−2
0 −5 − 4 ) +( )
2
4

=( )( ) +( )
0 −1 0 2
The image is (1 , −4) 1 0 −9 4

(c)
(−1
0
0 a−1
−1 )(
b − 3 ) () ( )
+
1
3
=
−2
−8
=( )+( )
9
0
2
4

(
−a + 1
−b + 3
+) () ( )
1
3
=
−2
−8
=( )
11
4
−a + 2 = −2 ∴ a = 4 The image is (11, 4)
−b + 6 = −8 ∴ b = 14
∴ Q is (4 , 14 )
Exercise 3
(a) Find the image of the point (7 , −1) under a 90° positive quarter turn, centre (0, 0).
(b) Find the image of the point (9 , −3 ) under a half turn rotation, centre (2, 4).
(c) The point (−4 , 5) is the image of the point D under an anticlockwise rotation of 90°,
centre (1, 3). Find the coordinates of D.
5. DILATATION

A Dilatation can either be an Enlargement (where an object is enlarged in size) or

a Reduction (where an object is reduced in size).
Enlargement

An Enlargement is represented by the 2×2 matrix

E= (k0 0k ) .
The linear scale factor is k, where k ˃ 1 and the area scale factor is k2, which is
2
the determinant matrix E . The object and its image are in the ratio 1 : k . This means
2
if the area of the object is A cm2, the area of the image will be k A cm2.
A B
the linear scale factor k = 1 1 .
If the image of the line AB is A1B1 , then AB
If k ˂ 0 (negative), the image is turned round. The transformation is equivalent to
a combination of an enlargement followed by a 180° rotation or vice-versa.
If k = 1, the object will remain where it is since, in this case, we shall have

(1 0
the identity matrix 0 1 .
)
An enlargement is completely described by stating the centre of enlargement and
the linear scale factor.

Reduction
This has all the properties of Enlargement except that the lengths are reduced
by the same linear scale factor k, where −1 ˂ k ˂ 1.

Finding the Centre of an Enlargement

Finding the image under an Enlargement
(i) When the Centre is the origin (0, 0)

The image ( x 1 , y 1 ) of the point ( x , y) under an enlargement, centre (0, 0), is defined

by
( ) ( ) ( ) , where (
x1
y1
=
k
0
0
k
x
y
k
0
0
)
k is the matrix associated with the enlargement
and k as the linear scale factor.

(ii) When the Centre is (r, s), where r ≠ 0 and s ≠ 0

The image ( x 1 , y 1 ) of the point ( x , y) under an enlargement, centre (r, s), is defined

by
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ), where (
x1
y1
=
k
0
0
k
x−r
y −s
+
r
s
k
0
0
)
k is the matrix associated with the
enlargement and k as the linear scale factor.
Examples

(a) Find the image of the point (4 , 1) under an enlargement, scale factor 2, centre (0, 0) .
(b) Find the image of the point (2 , −5 ) , under an enlargement, scale factor 3, centre (2, 4).
(c) The point (−2 , −8) is the image of the point Q under an enlargement scale factor −3 ,
centre (1, 3). Find the coordinates of Q.

Solutions

(a)
(2 0
0 2 )( 41 ) = ( 28 ) (b)
( 3 0
0 3 )( −5
2−2
− 4 ) +( )
2
4

=( )( ) +( )
3 0 0 2
The image is (8 , 2) 0 3 −9 4

(c)
(−3
0
0 a−1
−3 b −)(3
+
1
3
= ) () ( )
−2
−8
=(
−27 ) ( 4 )
0
+
2

(
−3 a + 3
−3 b + 9
+
1
3
= ) () ( )
−2
−8
=(
−23 )
2

−3a + 4 = −2 ∴ a = 2 The image is (2 , −23 )

2
−3 b + 12 = −8 ∴ b = 6 3
∴ Q is (2 , 6 23 )
Exercise 4

(a) Find the image of the point (1 , −2) , under an enlargement, scale factor 2, centre (3, 1).
(b) Find the image of the point (−4 , 0) under an enlargement, scale factor 4, centre (0, 0) .
(c) The point (−7 , 10 ) is the image of the point C under an enlargement scale factor −2 ,
centre (5, 0). Find the coordinates of C.

6. STRETCH

A Stretch with the x- axis as the invariant line is represented by the matrix
( 0 k)
1 0
. S=

S=(
0 1)
k 0
.
A Stretch with the y- axis as the invariant line is represented by the matrix
distance of image from invariant line
=
The stretch factor distance of object from invariant line .
A Stretch is completely described by stating the invariant line, the linear scale factor
and the direction.
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7. SHEAR

A Shear with the x- axis as the invariant line is represented by the matrix
S= 1 k .
0 1 ( )
A Shear with the y- axis as the invariant line is represented by the matrix
S= 1 0 .
k 1 ( )
distance moved by point
=
The shear factor distance of that point from the invariant line .

A Shear is completely described by stating the equation of the invariant line, the linear
scale factor and the direction.

Exercise 5 : Miscellaneous

(
1 0
) (
−1 0 −6 −1
1.(a) A = 0 −1 , B = 0 −1 , C = 1 , D = 0
) ( ) ( 0
) ( 0
1 , F = −1
−1
0 . )
(i) Name the transformation that each of matrix A, B, C, D and F represents.
(ii) Find the image of P (−2, −3) under
(a) a reflection in the line y = 0 (b) a positive quarter turn
(c) the translation given above
6−x
( 0
)
(b) The matrix L = 8 − 2 y 4 + x represents an enlargement.
(i) Find the value of x and the value of y.
(ii) Write down the area scale factor.
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2. (a) Triangle V is the image of ∆XYZ, with vertices X(1, 2), Y(4, 2) and Z(1, 3),

under the transformation given by the matrix

A = −1 0
0 2 . ( )
(i) Draw and label triangle V using a scale of 1 unit to 1 cm on each axis.
Take −5 ≤ x ≤ 5 and −7 ≤ y ≤ 7 .
(ii) Triangle W is the image of triangle V under a rotation of 180˚ about
the origin O. Draw and label triangle W .
(iii) Determine the matrix representing the single transformation which maps
triangle V onto triangle W .

(b) The point (x, y) is mapped onto the point ( x 1 , y 1 ) by the transformation D

described by
( ) ()
x1
y1
→ A
x
y
+ B
, where
A = 1 −2 (
0 1 and
B= 2
−5 . ) ( )
(i) Find the coordinates of the point P1 , the image of P (3, 2) under D.
 (ii) Q1 (− 1 , 6 ) is the image of Q(a , b) under the transformation D .
Find the value of a and the value of b .
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3. Answer the whole of this question on a sheet of graph paper
Triangle A has vertices (4, 1), (4, -1) and (5, 1)
Triangle B has vertices (1, 4), (-1, 4) and (1, 5)
(i) Using a scale of 1 cm to represent 1 unit on each axis, draw axes for values
of x and y in the range -6 ≤ x ≤ 6 and -6 ≤ y ≤ 6 . Draw and label the
triangles A and B .
(ii) Describe fully the single transformation which maps triangle A onto
triangle B
0
(iii) The transformation represented by the matrix −1
( 1
)
0 maps triangle A
onto triangle C. Draw and label triangle C .
(iv) Write down the matrix representing the transformation which maps
triangle B onto triangle C .
(v) Given also that triangle C is mapped onto triangle D by a translation given

by
( )
−5
3 , draw and label triangle D .
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4. The points A ( 1, 1 ) , B ( 2, 3 ) and C ( 3, 2 ) are vertices of Δ ABC .

(a) Using a scale of 1 cm for 1 unit on each axis, draw and label Δ ABC .

S= ( )2 1
0 1 .
Δ ABC is transformed to ΔA 1 B1 C 1 , where A1 , B1 and C 1 are respectively the
images of A, B and C under the transformation with matrix S.

(b) (i) Find the coordinates of A1 , B1 and C 1 .

(ii) Draw and label ΔA 1 B1 C 1 .

T= 0 2(
−1 1 . )
ΔA 1 B1 C 1 is transformed to ΔA 2 B2 C 2 , where A2 , B2 and C 2 are respectively
the images of A1 , B1 and C 1 under the transformation with matrix T.

(c) Draw and label ΔA 2 B2 C 2 .

An enlargement, centre O, followed by a rotation about O transforms Δ ABC
onto ΔA 2 B2 C 2 .
 (d) Find
(i) the scale factor of the enlargement,
(ii) the angle of rotation.

(e) Find the matrix of the transformation that maps Δ ABC onto ΔA 2 B2 C 2 .
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5.(a) Find the matrix for the stretch S parallel to the y – axis if the x – axis is invariant
and the point P(1, 2) is mapped onto Pʹ(1, 6).

(b) (i) Plot the points A(2, 1), B(3, 5) and C(5, 1).

(ii) If S is a stretch such that the y – axis is invariant and the point (1, 0) is mapped
onto (3, 0), plot the image of triangle ABC under under S.

(iii) Find the matrix S and state its determinant.

(iv) Find the ratio of the areas of the the two triangles.
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