What is a Translation?

What is a Translation?

Note:

Ever slide something across a table? If so, then you have performed a translation! In this tutorial, learn the definition of translation and see some really neat examples. Take a look!

Keywords:

  • definition
  • translation
  • slide
  • move over
  • shift
  • transformation

Background Tutorials

  • Use a pair of perpendicular number lines, called axes, to define a coordinate system, with the intersection of the lines (the origin) arranged to coincide with the 0 on each line and a given point in the plane located by using an ordered pair of numbers, called its coordinates. Understand that the first number indicates how far to travel from the origin in the direction of one axis, and the second number indicates how far to travel in the direction of the second axis, with the convention that the names of the two axes and the coordinates correspond (e.g., x-axis and x-coordinate, y-axis and y-coordinate).

      • What is the Coordinate Plane?What is the Coordinate Plane?

      What is the Coordinate Plane?

      You can't graph a function or plot ordered pairs without a coordinate plane! Learn about the coordinate plane by watching this tutorial.

  • Represent transformations in the plane using, e.g., transparencies and geometry software; describe transformations as functions that take points in the plane as inputs and give other points as outputs. Compare transformations that preserve distance and angle to those that do not (e.g., translation versus horizontal stretch).

      • What is an Image?What is an Image?

      What is an Image?

      Just about everything in math has a name! Did you know that when you're dealing with transformations, the new figure you get is called an image? Check out this tutorial and learn about this math term!

Further Exploration

  • Given a geometric figure and a rotation, reflection, or translation, draw the transformed figure using, e.g., graph paper, tracing paper, or geometry software. Specify a sequence of transformations that will carry a given figure onto another.