Transformations and Congruence - Grade 8
1. Identify Reflections, Rotations, and Translations
Transformations: Changes to a figure's position, size, or orientation in the coordinate plane.
Three Rigid Transformations (Preserve Size and Shape):
1. Translation (Slide):
- Moves every point the same distance in the same direction
- Like sliding a shape without turning it
- No change in orientation
- Example: Moving a triangle 3 units right and 2 units up
2. Reflection (Flip):
- Flips a figure over a line (line of reflection)
- Creates a mirror image
- Changes orientation
- Example: Flipping over the x-axis or y-axis
3. Rotation (Turn):
- Turns a figure around a fixed point (center of rotation)
- Measured in degrees
- Can be clockwise or counterclockwise
- Example: Rotating 90° counterclockwise around the origin
Key Properties:
- Rigid transformations preserve distance and angle measures
- Pre-image: Original figure before transformation
- Image: Resulting figure after transformation (denoted with prime notation: A')
- Isometry: A transformation that preserves distance
2. Translations: Rules and Coordinates
Translation Rule:
\( (x, y) \rightarrow (x + a, y + b) \)
where \( a \) = horizontal shift (positive = right, negative = left)
where \( b \) = vertical shift (positive = up, negative = down)
Notation:
Vector notation: \( \langle a, b \rangle \) or \( T_{a,b} \)
Examples:
Example 1: Translate point \( A(3, 4) \) by 5 units right and 2 units down.
Rule: \( (x, y) \rightarrow (x + 5, y - 2) \)
\( A(3, 4) \rightarrow A'(3 + 5, 4 - 2) = A'(8, 2) \)
Example 2: Write the rule for translating 4 units left and 3 units up.
Rule: \( (x, y) \rightarrow (x - 4, y + 3) \)
Example 3: Point \( B(2, -3) \) translates to \( B'(5, 1) \). Find the translation rule.
Horizontal shift: \( 5 - 2 = 3 \) (right)
Vertical shift: \( 1 - (-3) = 4 \) (up)
Rule: \( (x, y) \rightarrow (x + 3, y + 4) \)
3. Reflections: Rules and Coordinates
Reflection Rules:
Line of Reflection | Coordinate Rule | Description |
---|---|---|
x-axis | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (x, -y) \) | Flip over horizontal axis |
y-axis | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (-x, y) \) | Flip over vertical axis |
y = x | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (y, x) \) | Swap coordinates |
y = -x | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (-y, -x) \) | Swap and negate both |
Origin | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (-x, -y) \) | Negate both coordinates |
Examples:
Example 1: Reflect point \( P(4, 3) \) over the x-axis.
Rule: \( (x, y) \rightarrow (x, -y) \)
\( P(4, 3) \rightarrow P'(4, -3) \)
Example 2: Reflect point \( Q(-2, 5) \) over the y-axis.
Rule: \( (x, y) \rightarrow (-x, y) \)
\( Q(-2, 5) \rightarrow Q'(2, 5) \)
Example 3: Reflect point \( R(3, -4) \) over the line \( y = x \).
Rule: \( (x, y) \rightarrow (y, x) \)
\( R(3, -4) \rightarrow R'(-4, 3) \)
Example 4: Reflect point \( S(6, 2) \) over the origin.
Rule: \( (x, y) \rightarrow (-x, -y) \)
\( S(6, 2) \rightarrow S'(-6, -2) \)
4. Rotations: Rules and Coordinates
Convention: Positive angles = counterclockwise, Negative angles = clockwise
Rotation Rules (About the Origin):
Rotation | Coordinate Rule | Memory Aid |
---|---|---|
90° CCW (or -270° CW) | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (-y, x) \) | Switch, negate new first |
180° (either direction) | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (-x, -y) \) | Negate both |
270° CCW (or -90° CW) | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (y, -x) \) | Switch, negate new second |
90° CW (or -90°) | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (y, -x) \) | Switch, negate new second |
270° CW (or -270°) | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (-y, x) \) | Switch, negate new first |
360° | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (x, y) \) | No change (full rotation) |
Examples:
Example 1: Rotate point \( A(3, 4) \) 90° counterclockwise about the origin.
Rule: \( (x, y) \rightarrow (-y, x) \)
\( A(3, 4) \rightarrow A'(-4, 3) \)
Example 2: Rotate point \( B(5, -2) \) 180° about the origin.
Rule: \( (x, y) \rightarrow (-x, -y) \)
\( B(5, -2) \rightarrow B'(-5, 2) \)
Example 3: Rotate point \( C(-3, 6) \) 270° counterclockwise about the origin.
Rule: \( (x, y) \rightarrow (y, -x) \)
\( C(-3, 6) \rightarrow C'(6, 3) \)
Example 4: Rotate point \( D(2, 7) \) 90° clockwise about the origin.
Rule: \( (x, y) \rightarrow (y, -x) \)
\( D(2, 7) \rightarrow D'(7, -2) \)
5. Describe a Sequence of Transformations
Definition: A composition of transformations is when two or more transformations are applied one after another.
Important Notes:
- Order matters! Different orders can produce different results
- Apply transformations in the order given
- The image from one transformation becomes the pre-image for the next
- Use prime notation: A → A' → A''
Examples:
Example 1: Point \( P(2, 3) \) is reflected over the x-axis, then translated 4 units right.
Step 1: Reflect over x-axis: \( P(2, 3) \rightarrow P'(2, -3) \)
Step 2: Translate 4 right: \( P'(2, -3) \rightarrow P''(6, -3) \)
Final image: \( P''(6, -3) \)
Example 2: Point \( Q(4, 1) \) is rotated 90° CCW, then reflected over the y-axis.
Step 1: Rotate 90° CCW: \( Q(4, 1) \rightarrow Q'(-1, 4) \)
Step 2: Reflect over y-axis: \( Q'(-1, 4) \rightarrow Q''(1, 4) \)
Final image: \( Q''(1, 4) \)
Example 3: Describe the transformations that map \( A(2, 3) \) to \( A''(2, -1) \).
Possible sequence: Translate 4 units down: \( (x, y) \rightarrow (x, y - 4) \)
Or: Reflect over x-axis, then translate 2 units down
Special Cases:
Two reflections over parallel lines = Translation
Two reflections over intersecting lines = Rotation (angle = 2 × angle between lines)
6. Identify Congruent Figures
Definition: Two figures are congruent if they have the same size and shape.
Congruence Symbol:
\( \triangle ABC \cong \triangle DEF \)
Read as: "Triangle ABC is congruent to triangle DEF"
Properties of Congruent Figures:
- Corresponding sides are equal in length
- Corresponding angles are equal in measure
- Can be mapped onto each other using rigid transformations
- Area and perimeter are equal
Congruence Transformations:
Rigid transformations that preserve congruence:
- Translation: Preserves size, shape, and orientation
- Reflection: Preserves size and shape; reverses orientation
- Rotation: Preserves size, shape, and changes orientation
How to Prove Congruence:
- Show that one figure can be mapped to another using only rigid transformations
- Verify that all corresponding sides are equal
- Verify that all corresponding angles are equal
Example:
If \( \triangle ABC \cong \triangle DEF \), and \( AB = 5 \), \( BC = 7 \), \( \angle B = 60° \), find \( DE \), \( EF \), and \( \angle E \).
Corresponding parts: \( AB \leftrightarrow DE \), \( BC \leftrightarrow EF \), \( \angle B \leftrightarrow \angle E \)
\( DE = 5 \), \( EF = 7 \), \( \angle E = 60° \)
7. Congruence Statements and Corresponding Parts
Congruence Statement: A statement that identifies which parts of two figures correspond.
Important Rules:
- Order matters! Vertices must be listed in corresponding order
- First vertex corresponds to first vertex, second to second, etc.
- CPCTC: Corresponding Parts of Congruent Triangles are Congruent
Examples:
Example 1: If \( \triangle PQR \cong \triangle STU \), list all corresponding parts.
Corresponding sides:
- \( PQ \cong ST \)
- \( QR \cong TU \)
- \( RP \cong US \)
Corresponding angles:
- \( \angle P \cong \angle S \)
- \( \angle Q \cong \angle T \)
- \( \angle R \cong \angle U \)
Example 2: Given \( \triangle ABC \cong \triangle XYZ \). If \( AB = 8 \), \( \angle C = 45° \), and \( XY = 10 \), find the corresponding measures.
\( AB \) corresponds to \( XY \), so they should be equal
But \( AB = 8 \) and \( XY = 10 \) → NOT congruent! (contradiction)
\( \angle C \) corresponds to \( \angle Z \), so \( \angle Z = 45° \)
Example 3: Write a congruence statement for two congruent quadrilaterals where vertices A, B, C, D correspond to vertices W, X, Y, Z respectively.
Statement: \( ABCD \cong WXYZ \)
8. Side Lengths and Angle Measures of Congruent Figures
Key Principle: Corresponding parts of congruent figures are equal.
Steps to Find Missing Measures:
- Identify the congruence statement
- Determine which parts correspond
- Set corresponding measures equal to each other
- Solve for unknown values
Examples:
Example 1: \( \triangle ABC \cong \triangle DEF \). If \( AB = 12 \), \( BC = 15 \), \( CA = 9 \), find \( DE \), \( EF \), and \( FD \).
Corresponding sides:
\( AB \leftrightarrow DE \) → \( DE = 12 \)
\( BC \leftrightarrow EF \) → \( EF = 15 \)
\( CA \leftrightarrow FD \) → \( FD = 9 \)
Example 2: Quadrilateral ABCD ≅ Quadrilateral PQRS. If \( \angle A = 85° \), \( \angle B = 95° \), \( \angle C = 100° \), find \( \angle P \), \( \angle Q \), \( \angle R \), and \( \angle S \).
\( \angle P = 85° \) (corresponds to \( \angle A \))
\( \angle Q = 95° \) (corresponds to \( \angle B \))
\( \angle R = 100° \) (corresponds to \( \angle C \))
\( \angle S = 80° \) (sum of quadrilateral angles = 360°)
Example 3: \( \triangle JKL \cong \triangle MNO \). If \( JK = 2x + 3 \), \( MN = 5x - 6 \), find \( x \) and \( JK \).
Since \( JK \leftrightarrow MN \): \( 2x + 3 = 5x - 6 \)
\( 3 + 6 = 5x - 2x \)
\( 9 = 3x \) → \( x = 3 \)
\( JK = 2(3) + 3 = 9 \)
9. Determine if Two Figures are Congruent: Justify Your Answer
Methods to Justify Congruence:
Method 1: Transformation Approach
Show that one figure can be mapped to the other using a sequence of rigid transformations (translations, reflections, rotations).
Method 2: Measurement Approach
Verify that all corresponding sides and angles are equal.
Method 3: Triangle Congruence Theorems
- SSS: All three sides equal
- SAS: Two sides and included angle equal
- ASA: Two angles and included side equal
- AAS: Two angles and non-included side equal
- HL: Hypotenuse and leg of right triangles equal
Example Justifications:
Example 1: Triangle ABC and Triangle DEF have sides: AB = DE = 5, BC = EF = 7, CA = FD = 9. Are they congruent? Justify.
Yes, they are congruent.
Justification: All three corresponding sides are equal (SSS Congruence).
Example 2: Figure ABCD can be mapped to Figure WXYZ by a reflection over the y-axis followed by a translation 3 units up. Are they congruent?
Yes, they are congruent.
Justification: Reflections and translations are rigid transformations that preserve size and shape.
Quick Reference: Transformation Rules
Transformation | Coordinate Rule |
---|---|
Translation (a right, b up) | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (x+a, y+b) \) |
Reflection over x-axis | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (x, -y) \) |
Reflection over y-axis | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (-x, y) \) |
Reflection over y = x | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (y, x) \) |
Reflection over origin | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (-x, -y) \) |
Rotation 90° CCW | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (-y, x) \) |
Rotation 180° | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (-x, -y) \) |
Rotation 270° CCW (90° CW) | \( (x, y) \rightarrow (y, -x) \) |
💡 Key Tips for Transformations and Congruence
- ✓ Rigid transformations preserve size and shape (translations, reflections, rotations)
- ✓ Use prime notation: A → A' → A'' for sequences
- ✓ Order matters in sequences! Different orders can give different results
- ✓ Reflection over x-axis: negate y-coordinate
- ✓ Reflection over y-axis: negate x-coordinate
- ✓ Rotation 90° CCW: switch and negate first: (x, y) → (-y, x)
- ✓ Rotation 180°: negate both: (x, y) → (-x, -y)
- ✓ Congruent figures have equal corresponding parts
- ✓ CPCTC: Corresponding Parts of Congruent Triangles are Congruent
- ✓ Write congruence statements carefully - order of vertices matters!
- ✓ Always justify congruence with transformations or measurements