How_To_Be_Good_At_Math

264 GEOMETRY •^ TRANSLATION

What is translation?

Translation, like reflection or rotation, is a kind of transformation. With translation, the

object and its image still look the same, because the original is not reflected, rotated,

or re-sized – it just slides into a new position.

Translation

A translation moves an object or shape into a new

position by sliding it up, down, or sideways.

Translation doesn’t change its shape or size.

Translation is another kind of

transformation, along with

reflection and rotation.

Look at the robot in this

maze. It has moved vertically

down by five squares.

This time, the robot has

moved three squares

horizontally to the right.

In this translation, the robot

has moved one square up

and two squares to the right.

The original object or shape

is called the pre-image

The translated object or

shape is called the image

Translation for tessellation

Translation is often used to make patterns

called tessellations, which are identical

shapes arranged together without leaving

any gaps. This tessellation has been made

by translating purple and orange cat

shapes diagonally so that they interlock.

REAL WORLD MATHS

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