Transformations

By V. Murali

- Types of transformation – translation, reflection, rotation, enlargement etc.

Translation
- All points in a plane shifted along a straight line in the same direction and same
distance.

P’

R’ Q’
P
Straight lines
Straight lines

R Q

- Points P, Q and R moved in the same direction and same distance in the same
plane and all the images of the points named as P’, Q’ and R’.

Properties
1. The shape, size and orientation of the image and object are same.
2. All the points of the object change their positions.
3. Every point of object move in the same direction for the same distance in a
straight line.

- A translation can be described in two ways.

a) by stating the direction and distance of movement.

Example 1
In the diagram below points P, Q, R and S are shifted to the points P’, Q’, R’ and S’
respectively, under different translations. Describe each translation.
 R’
●
P P’
● ●

R
●

S
●

S’
●
Q’ Q
● ●

Solution
1. Translation of P → P’ is a movement of 5 units to the right.
2. Translation of Q → Q’ is a movement of 13 units to the left.
3. Translation of R → R’ is a movement of 13 units to the right and 4 units
upwards.
4. Translation of S → S’ is a movement of 13 units to the left and 3 units
downwards.

b) by stating in the form of = x units parallel to the x-axis and y units

parallel to the y-axis. The negative sign is used to indicate movements to the left
or downwards.
From example 1:
1. Translation of P → P’ is

2. Translation of Q → Q’ is

3. Translation of R → R’ is

4. Translation of S → S’ is

- If the coordinates of the object are given, then the coordinates of the image can be
determined.
Example
 If an object S(x, y) is moved under a translation , then the coordinates of its
image will be S’(x + m, y + n).

Example 2
Determine the coordinates of the image for each of the following points under a
translation .
a) P(7, 10) b) Q(5, -3)
Solution
a) P(7, 10) = P’[7 + (-5), 10 + 3]
= P’(2, 13)
b) Q(5, -3) = Q’[5 + (-5), (-3) + 3]
= Q’(0, 0)

- If the coordinates of the image are given, then the coordinates of the oject can be
determined.
Example
If an image A’(x, y) is the result under a translation , then the coordinates of
the object will be A(x - m, y - n).

Example 3
Determine the coordinates of the object that form each of the following images under
a translation .
a) A(3, 4) b) B(-5, 7)

Solution
a) A(3, 4) = A[3 - (-2), 5 – (-5)]
= A(3 + 2, 5 + 5)
= A(5, 10)
b) B(-5, 7) = B[-5 - (-2), 7 – (-5)]
= B(-5 + 2, 7 + 5)
= B(-3, 12)

Equal distance
Reflection
- All points in a plane are laterally inverted in a line called the axis of reflection or
the line of reflection. B’
B

object image
object image

Axis
Axisofofreflection
reflectionororline
lineofofreflection
reflection
Properties
1. The object and image are identical in shape and size but laterally inverted.
2. The axis of reflection or the line of reflection acts as axis of symmetry between
the object and its image.
3. The distances from axis of reflection to the points of object and its image are
equal.
4. The axis of reflection is the perpendicular bisector of the line joining an object
point to its image.

Example 4
In the diagram below, draw the image of the polygon ABCD under a reflection in the axis
of reflection PQ.

Q
P
A B

D’ C’
D C

Solution
B’ Axis of reflection or line of reflection
Axis of
Image ofreflection or line–oflaterally
polygon ABCD reflection
A’
inverted or mirror image
Q
P
A B

D C
Note: PQ (axis of reflection) is perpendicular bisector of the lines AA’, BB’, CC’ and
DD’.

Rotation

Properties
- all points are determined by the centre of rotation, the angle of rotation and the
direction of rotation (clockwise and anticlockwise).
- The image formed is identical to its object in shape, size and orientation.
- The position of centre of rotation remained unchanged.
Example
The diagram below shows point P is rotated clockwise about a point O through an angle
of 135 .

Direction of rotation
P
Angle of rotation

135
O P'

Centre of rotation

Example 1
The following diagram shows a polygon PQRS . Construct the image of the polygon
under a anticlockwise rotation of 90 about the point M.
 P

R Q

M
Solution

S object

R Q

P' Q'
M
image

R'
S'

- The coordinates of an image can be determined by the coordinates of its object.

Example 3
The diagram shows a polygon PQR. If it is rotated anticlockwise through an angle 90
about the origin, find the coordinates of the image of points P, Q and R.
 6

5 10 15 20

P
-2

-4

-6

Solution
Q'
8

P'

R'
2
Origin (0, 0)

5 10 15

P
-2

-4

Therefore, the coordinates of the image = P’(2, 5), Q’(3, 8) and R’(5, 3)

Isometry
- Transformation that maintains the shape and size of the object.
- The examples of isometry are translation, reflection and rotation or the
combination of two or three transformations.