Translations and reflections Quick check
A translation is a transformation that moves every point of a figure the same distance in the same direction. This means that the shape of the figure remains the same, but its position on the coordinate plane may change.
A reflection is a transformation that flips a figure over a line called the line of reflection. This transformation creates a mirror image of the original figure. The line of reflection is the perpendicular bisector of every segment connecting a point on the original figure to its image.
A quick check for understanding translations and reflections would be to provide students with a shape on a coordinate plane and ask them to describe how the shape would change if it were translated or reflected. Students should be able to explain the direction and distance of the translation and identify the line of reflection for a reflection.