Transformation : Tips and Tricks

Transformation: Tips and Tricks

Although perceived as the most challenging option in Section B of Paper 2, the topic has the easiest questions in the paper. The first question doesn't need you to know the concept of transformation but the Cartesian plane. Let's analyse possible question structure on transformation:

Part (a) this question usually requires candidate to identify the coordinates of the shape and draw it on the Cartesian plane. The normal value of the question is 2 marks

(b) usually translation T - you will be given a column matrix (column vector) to translate the shape drawn in (a). You are required to calculate the new coordinates and then draw the translated shape. Value of the question is 4 marks

(c) Rotation/Reflection - these are slightly challenging questions to few candidates who attempts this question. The textbook and teachers usually restrict the concepts to Origin/y-axis/x-axis but the questions in this section provides you with a different line of reflection or point of rotation(invariant) and requires you to calculate new coordinates and draw the reflected/rotated shape. 

(d) Combined transformation - the question either gives you coordinates of another shape or just illustrate the shape on a diagram. The common concepts tested are enlargement with rotation or reflection, shear with translation or anyway. In recent years  the questions have not been testing Shear and stretch but enlargement.

(e) description- the question requires you to observe and fully describe the transformation on the given diagrams illustrated on a Cartesian plane. They want you to identify the movement, direction and change to the original shape using either observation or calculation by matrices.

Tips

Translation- remember to add each set of coordinates by a given translation column vector T to find the position of a new shape.

Reflection - identify the mirror line and its equation, by observing similar sides and points. You can find the line of reflection by calculation it can be in the y or x-axis or along y=x line. The matrix is usually rep by N. 

Rotation - center of rotation (invariant point) will be a major theme of the question. Remember to identify the 90 degrees (clockwise/anti clockwise) and 180 degree rotation as stipulated by the syllabus. Rotation matrix is usually rep by R

Enlargement- scale factor and center of enlargement are major demands of the question. Remember to to find factor by factoring out common terms out of the enlargement matrix.

Invariant - means unchanging point or line in transformation.

For demonstrations and further explanation, register for our Facebook Class on Vectors, Matrices and Transformation. The learning materials includes Video tutorials, worksheets, tutorial notes and exercises, 

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