Precalculus transformations with matrices worksheet
Write each vertex as a column, x on top and y below, and multiply by the transformation matrix on the left. Each column of the product is an image vertex. To find a matrix, send (1, 0) and (0, 1) through the transformation: where they land are its two columns.
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How to do these
Rotate counterclockwise about the origin:
- The matrix for a 90 degree counterclockwise rotation sends (1, 0) to (0, 1) and (0, 1) to (-1, 0), so its columns are those two points.
- Multiply it by the column 2 over 5: the top row gives 0(2) - 1(5) = -5 and the bottom row gives 1(2) + 0(5) = 2.
The answer is .
Where students go wrong
Multiplying in the wrong order. The transformation matrix goes on the left and the vertices on the right; the other way round usually does not even multiply. When two transformations are done one after the other, the second one goes further left.
Also called matrix transformations, reflection matrix, rotation matrix, dilation matrix or transformation matrices.
What you can put on this worksheet
- Transform a figure with a matrix
- Reflect across the x-axis: →
- Name the transformation a matrix performs
- The vertex matrix becomes . Name the transformation. → Reflection across the x-axis
- Write the matrix for a transformation
- Write the matrix for a reflection across the line . →
- Translate with matrix addition
- Use matrix addition to translate triangle 5 left and 5 down. →