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Transformations on the Coordinate Plane Solutions

    • The Coordinate Plane is made up by a horizontal number line, the    x-axis   , and a vertical number line, the    y-axis   . 

    • Each coordinate    (x, y)    represents a point on the coordinate plane.
    • A    reflection    is a mirror image after a shape or graph has been flipped over the line of reflection.
    • A translation is a    shift   , either horizontal, vertical, or both, on the coordinate plane.

To reflect a figure over the x-axis:

    • Label each vertex as x, y.
    • Each point x, y will become    (x, y)    in the reflected image.

To reflect a figure over the y-axis:

    • Label each vertex as x, y.
    • Each point x, y will become    (x, y)    in the reflected image.

To translate a point horizontally:
 

    •    Subtract    the horizontal translation from the    x   -coordinate to move the point to the left. 
    •    Add    the horizontal translation to the    x   -coordinate to move the point to the right.

To translate a point vertically:

    • Subtract the vertical translation from the    y   -coordinate to move the point    down   .
    • Add the vertical translation to the    y   -coordinate to move the point    up   .
    • To translate a figure, translate each    vertex    based on the given translation.

Example 1

Reflect or translate the coordinate (3, 5) on the graph. 

  1. Reflect over the x-axis.

    Plan

    x, yx, y

x, y3, 53, 5

  1. Translate right two units, down eight units.

    Plan

    Translate right: add 2 units to x-coordinate.

    Translate down: subtract 8 units from y-coordinate.

3+2, 581, 3

  1. Translate left three units, up one unit.


    Plan

    Translate left: subtract 3 units from x-coordinate.

    Translate up: add 1 unit to y-coordinate.

33, 5+16, 6

Example 2

Reflect the figure over the given axis.

  1. Reflect the figure over the x-axis.

    Plan

    Label each vertex x, y.

    Plot the reflected points x, y.

4, 54, 52, 32, 35, 25, 2

  1. Reflect the figure over the y-axis.

    Plan


    Label each vertex (x, y).

    Plot the reflected points (x, y).

4, 54, 52, 32, 35, 25, 2

Example 3

Translate the figure. 

Translate 5 units right and 6 units down.

Plan

Label each vertex (x, y).

Shift each vertex (x+5, y6).

5, 05+5, 060, 65, 55+5, 560, 12, 52+5, 563, 12, 02+5, 063, 6



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