Translations, Rotations,

Reflections, and Dilations

 In geometry, a
transformation is a way
to change the position
of a figure.
In some transformations, the figure
retains its size and only its position is
changed.
Examples of this type of transformation
are:
translations, rotations, and reflections
In other transformations, such as
dilations, the size of the figure will
change.
TRANSLATION
 TRANSLATION
A translation is a transformation that
slides a figure across a plane or through
space.

With translation all points of a figure

move the same distance and the same
direction.
 TRANSLATION
Basically, translation means that a figure
has moved.
An easy way to remember what
translation means is to remember…
A TRANSLATION IS A CHANGE IN LOCATION.
A translation is usually specified by a
direction and a distance.
 TRANSLATION
What does a translation look like?
original image

x y
Translate from x to y

A TRANSLATION IS A CHANGE IN LOCATION.

 TRANSLATION
In the example below triangle A is translated to
become triangle B.

A B

Describe the translation.

Triangle A is slide directly to the right.
 TRANSLATION
In the example below arrow A is translated to
become arrow B.

Describe the translation.

Arrow A is slide down and to the right.
ROTATION
 ROTATION
A rotation is a transformation that turns a
figure about (around) a point or a line.
Basically, rotation means to spin a shape.
The point a figure turns around is called
the center of rotation.
The center of rotation can be on or
outside the shape.
 ROTATION
What does a rotation look like?
center of rotation

A ROTATION MEANS TO TURN A FIGURE

 ROTATION
The triangle
This is another waywasrotation
rotated
looks
around the
point.

center of rotation

A ROTATION MEANS TO TURN A FIGURE

 ROTATION
If a shape spins
360, how far does 360
it spin?

This is called .
 ROTATION Rotating a shape 180
turns a shape upside
If a shape spins down.
180, how far does
it spin?

This is called a . 180

 ROTATION
If a shape spins 90,
how far does it
spin?

90

This is called a .
 ROTATION
Describe how the triangle A was transformed to
make triangle B

A B

Describe the translation.

Triangle A was rotated right 90
 ROTATION
Describe how the arrow A was transformed to make
arrow B

B
A

Describe the translation.

Arrow A was rotated right 180
 ROTATION
When some shapes are rotated they
create a special situation called
rotational symmetry.

to spin a shape the exact same

 ROTATIONAL SYMMETRY
A shape has rotational symmetry if, after
you rotate less than one full turn, it is the
same as the original shape.
Here is an example…
As this shape is rotated 360, is it
ever the same before the shape
returns to its original direction?
90
Yes, when it is rotated 90 it is the
same as it was in the beginning.
So this shape is said to have
rotational symmetry.
 ROTATIONAL SYMMETRY
A shape has rotational symmetry if, after
you rotate less than one full turn, it is the
same as the original shape.
Here is another example…
As this shape is rotated 360, is it
ever the same before the shape
returns to its original direction?
Yes, when it is rotated 180 it is the
same as it was in the beginning.
So this shape is said to have
180 rotational symmetry.
 ROTATIONAL SYMMETRY
A shape has rotational symmetry if, after
you rotate less than one full turn, it is the
same as the original shape.
Here is another example…
As this shape is rotated 360, is it
ever the same before the shape
returns to its original direction?
No, when it is rotated 360 it is
never the same.
So this shape does NOT have
rotational symmetry.
 ROTATION SYMMETRY
Does this shape have rotational symmetry?
Yes, when the
shape is rotated
120 it is the
same. Since 120 
is less than 360,
this shape HAS 120
rotational
symmetry
REFLECTION
 REFLECTION
A reflection is a transformation that flips
a figure across a line.

A REFLECTION IS FLIPPED OVER A LINE.

 REFLECTION
After a shape is reflected, it looks like a
mirror image of itself. Remember, it is the
same, but it is
backwards

A REFLECTION IS FLIPPED OVER A LINE.

 REFLECTION
The line that a shape is flipped over is
called a line of reflection.
The line of reflection can be on the
Line of reflection
shape
or it can be outside the shape.
Notice, the shapes are exactly the same
distance from the line of reflection on
both sides.
A REFLECTION IS FLIPPED OVER A LINE.
 REFLECTION
Determine if each set of figures shows a reflection or a
translation. A

C B

C’ B’

A’

A REFLECTION IS FLIPPED OVER A LINE.

 REFLECTION
Sometimes, a figure has
reflectional symmetry.
This means that it can be folded along a line of
reflection within itself so that the two halves of the
figure match exactly, point by point.

Basically, if you can fold a shape in half and it

matches up exactly, it has reflectional symmetry.
 REFLECTIONAL SYMMETRY
An easy way to understand reflectional symmetry is to
think about folding.
What happens when
you unfold the piece
of paper?
Do you remember
folding a piece of
paper, drawing half
of a heart, and then
cutting it out?
 REFLECTIONAL SYMMETRY
The line of reflection
Reflectional Line of Symmetry in a figure with
Symmetry reflectional
means that a shape symmetry is called a
can be folded along a line of symmetry.
line of reflection so The two halves are
the two haves of the exactly the same…
figure match exactly, They are
point by point. symmetrical.

The two halves make

a whole heart.
 REFLECTIONAL SYMMETRY
The line created by the fold is the line of symmetry.
A shape can have more than one line of symmetry.
Where is the line of symmetry for this shape?
How can I fold
this shape so
that it matches
exactly?
Line of Symmetry
 REFLECTIONAL SYMMETRY
How many lines of symmetry does each shape have?

Do you see a pattern?

 REFLECTIONAL SYMMETRY
Which of these flags have reflectional symmetry?

United States of America Canada

Mexico England
 CONCLUSION
We just discussed three types of transformations.

See if you can match the action with the

appropriate transformation.

FLIP REFLECTION
SLIDE TRANSLATION
TURN ROTATION
 Translation, Rotation, and Reflection all
change the position of a shape, while the
size remains the same.
The fourth transformation that we are
going to discuss is called dilation.
 DILATION
Dilation changes the size of the shape
without changing the shape.
When you go to the eye doctor, they
dilate you eyes. Let’s try it by turning off
the lights.
When you enlarge a photograph or use a
copy machine to reduce a map, you are
making dilations.
 DILATION
Enlarge means to make a shape bigger.

Reduce means to make a shape smaller.

The scale factor tells you how much
something is enlarged or reduced.
 DILATION
Notice each time the shape transforms the shape
stays the same and only the size changes.

50%
REDUCE 200%
ENLARGE
 DILATION
Look at the pictures below

Dilate the image with a scale factor

of 75%

Dilate the image with a scale factor

of 150%
 DILATION
Look at the pictures below

Dilate the image with a scale factor

of 100%

Why is a dilation of 75% smaller, a

dilation of 150% bigger, and a dilation of
100% the same?
 Lets try to make sense of all of this

TRANSFORMATIONS
CHANGE THE POSTION CHANGE THE SIZE OF A
OF A SHAPE SHAPE

TRANSLATION ROTATION REFLECTION DILATION

Change in Turn around a Flip over a Change size of

location point line a shape
See if you can identify the transformation that
created the new shapes

TRANSLATION
 See if you can identify the transformation that
created the new shapes

Where is the line REFLECTION

of reflection?
See if you can identify the transformation that
created the new shapes

DILATION
See if you can identify the transformation that
created the new shapes

ROTATION
See if you can identify the transformation in these
pictures?

REFLECTION
See if you can identify the transformation in these
pictures?

ROTATION
See if you can identify the transformation in these
pictures?

TRANSLATION
See if you can identify the transformation in these
pictures?

DILATION
See if you can identify the transformation in these
pictures?

REFLECTION