Reflections on the Coordinate Plane: Step-by-Step Guide

Reflections on the Coordinate Plane

Reflection is a type of transformation that flips a figure across a line. Think of it as creating a mirror image of your shape! There are specific rules to follow depending on which line you're reflecting across.

When you reflect across the x-axis, the x-coordinate stays the same, but the y-coordinate becomes its opposite. The rule looks like this: (x, y) → $x, -y$. For example, if you have point K(3, 4), after reflection across the x-axis, it becomes K$3, -4$.

Remember This: For x-axis reflections, only the y-value changes sign. Think of it as the shape doing a vertical flip!

When reflecting across the y-axis, the y-coordinate stays the same, but the x-coordinate becomes its opposite. The rule is: (x, y) → $-x, y$. For example, point Q(5, 3) becomes Q$-5, 3$ after reflection across the y-axis.

To apply these rules to an entire shape, you need to reflect each point individually. For instance, when reflecting triangle QRS across the y-axis, if Q(5, 3) is one vertex, it becomes Q$-5, 3$ in the reflected image. Just follow the appropriate rule for each point, and you'll transform your entire shape correctly!