Transformations

1. Transformation: An operation which takes a figure called the preimage

and maps it (or moves it) onto its image.

2. A Rigid transformation: A mapping where the image is congruent to its

preimage. This is sometimes called an Isometry.

3. Reflection in a line l : A transformation that maps every point P in the

plane to a point P ' such that:

1. If P is not on l then l is the perpendicular bisector of PP ' .

2. If P is on l then P = P ' .

A
F
G
F'

B G'
D
E'

C D'

4. Translation: A transformation which moves every point a given distance, d

in a given direction, such that for any two points P and P ' , PP ' = d .

B'

B
A' D'

A D

C'

C
5. Rotation about a Point O x D : A transformation which moves every point
P in the plane to a point P ' such that

1. If P is not O, then PO = P ' O and m(POP ' = xD

2. If P is point O, then P = P '

A D

J
F
I
F'
H
m AED = 82°
G
I'
G'

H' J'

C
B

6. Glide Reflection: A transformation that consists of a translation followed

by a reflection.

A E

B C

B'' C''

A'' E''

D''

7. Dilation: A transformation which does not preserve size and shape.

Reflections, Translations, Rotations and Glide reflections are Isometries.
8. Fact: If l // m and a preimage is reflected over line l and its image is
reflected over line m , the resulting image is a translation of the original
preimage

D D'

D''
A E J
E' A'
A'' E''
C
C'

C''
B
B'
B''
9. Fact: If Lines l and m intersect at point O. A reflection in l followed by a
reflection in m , is a rotation about point O. The angle of rotation is twice the
measure of the right or acute angle formed by the intersecting lines l and
m.

D
D'
L

A E
m LIM = 82°
E'
C
C' m BIB'' = 164°
A'

K I B'
M
B''

C''
A''
E''

D''
10. Reflections in the Cartesian Plane:

+ D ' E ' C ' is the image of + DEC reflected in the x axis. Notice which
coordinates change and which do not. The y coordinates change sign.

E: (8, 6)
E

C
D: (7, 1)
C: (2, 3)

A B
-5 5 D'
10

D': (7, -1)

C'
C': (2, -3)

-5
E'
E': (8, -6)
+ D ' E ' C ' is the image of + DEC reflected in the y axis. Notice which coordinates
change and which do not. The x coordinates change sign. Note that point C is
on the axis itself and doesn’t move.

E' E
E': (-4, 6) E: (4, 6)
5
C'
C

C: (0, 4)

D': (-6, 1) D: (6, 1)

D' D

A B
-5 5

-5

Fact: A reflection in one axis followed by the other axis results in a 180D rotation
about the origin. (This follows from the previous result of two reflections in
intersecting lines. ) The resulting image would differ from the original preimage
in that the signs of all of its x and y coordinates will change.)