Revision : Transformations

understand the use of 22 matrices to represent certain geometrical transformations in the x-y
plane, and in particular
(i) recognise that the matrix product AB represents the transformation that results from the
transformation represented by B followed by the transformation represented by A,
(ii) recall how the area scale-factor of a transformation is related to the determinant of the
corresponding matrix,
(iii) find the matrix that represents a given transformation or sequence of transformations
(understanding of the terms rotation, reflection, enlargement, stretch and shear
will be required).

Section 1: Introduction to transformations

Matrices can be used to represent many transformations on a grid (such as reflections, rotations,
enlargements, stretches and shears).
To find the image of a point P, you multiply the matrix by the position vector of the point.
2 1
Example: A transformation is represented by the 2 by 2 matrix M =
.
1 1
To find the image of the point (3, 2) under this transformation, you need to find the result of the
following matrix multiplication
2 1
1 1
14 2 43
matrix

3 8


{2 1

position
vector

So the coordinates of the image are (8, -1).

Example 2: A rectangle has coordinates (1, 1), (4, 1), (4, 3) and (1, 3). Find the coordinates of the
3 1
image of the rectangle under the transformation represented by the matrix
.
1 1
3 1 1 3 1 4
Solution: You could find the image of each vertex in turn by finding
,

1 1 1 1 1 1
etc.
However, it is more efficient to multiply the transformation matrix by a rectangular matrix
containing the coordinates of each vertex:
2 11 9 0
3 1 1 4 4 1

1 1 1 1 3
3
0 3 1 2
14 2 43 1 44 2 4 43
.
transformation
matrix containing
matrix
coordinates of each vertex

So the image has coordinates (2, 0), (11, -3), (9, -1) and (0, 2).
The diagram below shows the object and the image:

6
4
2
0

-2

10

12

-2

a b
Any transformation that can be represented by a 2 by 2 matrix,
, is called a linear
c d
transformation.

1.1

Transforming the unit square

The square with coordinates O(0, 0), I(1, 0), J(0, 1) and K(1, 1) is called the unit square.
Suppose we consider the image of this square under a general linear transformation as represented
a b
by the matrix
:
c d
0 a b a b
a b 0 1 0 1
c d 0 0 1 1 0 c d c d .

We therefore can notice the following things:

The origin O(0, 0) is mapped to itself;
The image of the point I(1, 0) is (a, c), i.e. the first column of the transformation matrix;
The image of the point J(0, 1) is (b, d), i.e. the second column of the transformation matrix;
The image of the point K(1, 1) is (a + b, c+ d), i.e. the result of finding the sum of the entries in
each row of the matrix.
Example: Find the image of the unit square under the transformation represented by the matrix
1 2
0 1 .

Solution:
The image of (1, 0) is (1, 0) (i.e. the first column)
The image of (0, 1) is (2, 1) (i.e. the second column)
The image of (1, 1) is (3, 1) (i.e. add the entries in the
top row and the bottom row together).
We can show the unit square and its image in a
diagram:
We notice that the points on the x-axis have not moved.
This type of transformation is called a shear. Here the
invariant line is the x-axis.

3
2
1
0

We can describe what transformation any matrix represents by seeing how it affects the unit square.
Example:
A transformation T is given by:
x '
y'

0
1 x

.
1 0 y

a) Find the image of the point A(3, 2).

b) Describe fully the transformation represented by T.
Solution:
a) The image of A(3, 2) can be found by:
0 1 3 2

1 0

2 3
So the image of A is the point A (-2, 3).
Note: The image of a point A is often denoted A .
b) To describe the transformation we consider the image of the unit square:
The image of (1, 0) is (0, 1) (i.e. the first column)
The image of (0, 1) is (-1, 0) (i.e. the second column)
3
The image of (1, 1) is (-1, 1) (i.e. add the entries in the
top row and the bottom row together).
2
1 I'
J
J'

-1

1.2

I
1

Finding the matrix to represent a transformation

To find the matrix that defines a transformation you find the images of the two points I(1, 0) and
J(0, 1).
The image of (1, 0) forms the first column of the matrix.
The image of (0, 1) forms the second column of the matrix.
Example:
Find the matrix that represents a reflection in the y-axis.
Solution:
When you reflect in the y-axis:
the image of I(1, 0) is (-1, 0)
the image of J(0, 1) is (0, 1).
Therefore the matrix is:
1 0
0 1 .

I'

-1

1 J
J'

reflect in y-axis

Example 2:
Find the matrix that represents an enlargement centre (0, 0), scale factor 3.
y

Solution:
The image of the point I(1, 0) is (3, 0).
The image of the point J(0, 1) is (0, 3).

3 J'

3 0
So the matrix is
.
0 3

2
1 J
I

I'

Example 3:
Find the matrix that represents a rotation centre (0, 0), 90 degrees clockwise.
y

Solution:
The image of the point I(1, 0) is (0, -1).
The image of the point J(0, 1) is (1, 0).

0 1
So the matrix is
.
1 0

rotation 90 deg clockwise

1 J
0

I J'

-1 I'

1.3

Some special matrix transformations

Rotation anticlockwise centre (0, 0).

cos
The matrix that represents this transformation is
sin

(-sin , cos )

sin
.
cos

1
sin
1

cos

(cos , sin )

cos

sin
1

Reflection in the line y = mx

The general form for the matrix corresponding to a reflection in the line y = mx is
2m
cos 2 sin 2
1 m2
sin
2

[ cos 2
,
]
sin 2 cos 2 .
1 m2

1 m2

Example:
Find the matrix of an anticlockwise rotation about the origin through 60.
Solution:
This matrix would be

cos 60 sin 60

sin 60 cos 60

1
2
3
2

23
.
1
2

Example 2:
Find the matrix that corresponds to a reflection in the line y = 2x.
Solution:

Stretch, scale factor k parallel to the x-axis : move a point (x,y) parallel to the x-axis , through
a distance kx , where k is stretch factor .
k 0
The matrix for this transformation is
.
0 1
Note: A stretch is an enlargement is one direction only.
Stretch factor , k =

J
1 J'

distance of new point from the invariant line

distance of original point from invariant line

I'

Stretch, scale factor k parallel to the y-axis : move a point (x,y) parallel to the y-axis , through
a distance ky , where k is stretch factor .
1 0
k J'
The matrix for this transformation is
.
0 k
1 J

Shear parallel to the x-axis

1 k
The matrix
corresponds to a shear parallel to the x 0 1
axis. Points on the x-axis do not move, whilst points on the
line y = 1 are translated k units to the right.
shear factor , k =
difference in x coordinates of corresponding points
y coordinate of original point

I
I'
1

points on the line y = 1

are translated k units to
the right
1
I
I'

Shear parallel to the y-axis

1 0
The matrix
corresponds to a shear parallel to the
k 1
y-axis. Points on the y-axis do not move, whilst points on
the line x = 1 are translated k units up.

I'

1
I

points on the line

x=1 are
translated k units
up

Worked examination question :

Q1. A transformation transforms the point (3,2) to (11,2) and the point (2,5) to (22,5) . Find the
transformation matrix associated with this transformation .

1
2

3
.
1 3 1
2
2
(i) Give a complete geometrical description of the transformation represented by M.
(ii) Hence find M 2015 .
Q2. The matrix M is given by M

Solution:

1
2

Example :
Find the matrix for the following transformation :
(a) reflection in the line y = 2x
(b) the rotation through 450 anticlockwise
(c) the shear parallel to y-axis , factor 2.

Example :
3 1
transforms the triangle PQR into the triangle with coordinates
4 2
(6,-2) , (4,4) , (0,8) . Find the coordinates of P , Q and R .

The matrix A=

Example:
Find the image of the line 2x + 3y = 8 under the transformation
1

u
( x y)

u 4x y

2
(i)
(ii)
v 3x y
v 1 ( x y)

Section 2: Combining transformations

Suppose we have two matrices M and N, each corresponding to a different transformation.
Then the matrix product NM corresponds to the combined transformation, where M is the first
transformation and N is the second transformation.
Note: Look carefully at the order.
Example: Find the matrix that represents the combined transformation:
reflection in the x-axis;
followed by enlargement scale factor 2 centre (0, 0).
Solution:
We first find the matrix that corresponds to each separate transformation.
Transformation 1: Refection in the x-axis
The image of (1, 0) is (1, 0)
The image of (0, 1) is (0, -1)
1 0
So the matrix is
.
0 1

1
reflect in x-axis
1
-1

Transformation 2:
2
This matrix is
0

Enlargement s.f. 2 centre (0, 0):

0
.
2

Combined transformation: Since we wish to reflect first then enlarge, the correct order to
multiply the matrices is:
2 0 1 0
2 0
0 2 0 1 = 0 2

Example :
Find the equation of the linear transformation T : (x,y) ( x , y ) defined by reflection in the line
y = 2x followed by a rotation through 600 clockwise . Under the transformation find the image of
the circle with equation x2 + y2 = 4 .

Worked examination question :

A transformation T1 is represented by the matrix:
3 1
2
M1 2
.
3
1
2
2
a) Give a geometrical description of T1.
The transformation T2 is a reflection in the line y 3 x .
b) Find the matrix M2 which represents the transformation T2.
c) (i) Find the matrix representing the transformation T2 followed by T1.
(ii) Give a geometrical description of this combined transformation.
Solution:

Example:
a) The transformation T1 represented by the matrix
3 1
2
2
M1
1
23
2

is an anticlockwise rotation about the origin. Find the angle of rotation.

b) The transformation T2 represented by the matrix
1
1 3

2
M 2 12

3 1
2
2
is a reflection in the line y = mx. Find the value of m.
c)

(i)
(ii)

The matrix M3 is given by M3 = M1M2. Find M3.

The matrix M3 represents a single transformation T3. Give a geometrical description
of T3.

Section 3: Interpreting the determinant of the transformation matrix

Suppose that a transformation T is represented by the matrix M.
When a shape is transformed by this transformation matrix, the area of the image is related to the
area of the object according to this relationship:
area of image = |det(M )| area of object .
Therefore |det(M)| represents the area scale factor for the transformation.
Note: If det(M) is negative, then the transformation will have involved some flipping over (i.e.
some reflection is involved).
Worked examination question :
1 3
The matrix A is given by A
.
1
3
a) Describe fully a sequence of two geometrical transformations represented by A.
b) The triangle PQR is mapped by the transformation represented by A onto the triangle PQR.
Given that the area of PQR is 8, find the area of PQR.
Solution
a) Consider the image of the unit square under the transformation,
The image of the point (1, 0) is (1, 3), i..e the first column of the matrix
The image of the point (0, 1) is (-3, 1), i.e. the second column of the matrix.
The image of the point (1, 1) is (1-3, 3+1), i.e. the sum of the entries
We can see that two transformations are involved:
The unit square has been enlarged;
The unit square has been rotated.

J'

I'

The length of the sides of the enlarged square are 12 ( 3)2 2

So the scale factor of the enlargement must be 2.
The angle of rotation is the angle shown on the diagram above.
Using trigonometry we find that = 60.
So the two transformations are:
enlargement s.f. 2 centre (0, 0)
rotation 60 (anticlockwise) centre (0, 0).
b) To find the area of the image, we need to find det(A). This determinant is 1 (-3) = 4.
So the area of the image is 4 times the area of the object.
Therefore the area of PQR is 4 8 = 32.

Section 4: Mixed questions

Worked Example :
Q1.
a) Find the 2 2 matrix which represents a clockwise rotation through an angle of about the
origin.
b) Find the matrix which transforms
6
1
1
2
and
to .
0 to
6

2
2

Q2. Find the matrix which represents a rotation of 900 anticlockwise about O , followed by a
reflection in the x-axis , followed by a shear parallel to the x-axis such that (0,1) is transformed
to (1,1) .

Q3. Describe the geometrical transformations represented by the matrices

1 0
3 4
1 0
(a)
(b)
(c)

0 1
4 3
2 1