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Subsection 2.2.5 Determining the Equation of a Mirror Line ( Line of Reflection) Given an Object and its Image

Activity 2.2.5.

Work in groups
Determine the line of reflection that created the reflected image below.
Line of reflection
Copy the figure above on a graph paper
Fold your graph paper such that the points of the objects match with their respective images. Where does the fold line appear?
Key Takeaway
  • You notice that the fold line appears exactly on the y-axis. Therefore, the line of reflection is the y-axis.
  • A line of reflection can be defined with there equation. From the activity, the equation of the line of reflection is \(x = 0.\)

Example 2.2.6.

Determine the equation of the line of reflection.
Line of reflection
Solution.
The coordinates of \(D \text{ and } D'\) are at \((0,0),\) tells you that the line of reflection passes through \((0,0).\)
Connect point \(C \text{ to } C'\) with a line. The line of reflection is the perpendicular bisector of \(C \text{ and } C'.\)
From the properties of reflection, the distance from the object to the mirror line is the same as that of mirror line to the image. Therefore, the line of reflection passes through the midpoint of the line connecting \(C \text{ to } C'.\)
Coordinates for \(C \text{ is }(4,2)\) and that of \(C' \text{ is } (-2,-4).\) The mid point of line \(CC'\) is:
\begin{equation*} \left( \frac{4 + -2}{2},\frac{2 + -4}{2} \right) = (1,-1) \end{equation*}
Since you know that the line of reflection passes through \((0,0) \text{ and } (1,-1),\) the gradient of the reflection line is:
\begin{equation*} m = \frac{-1 - 0}{1 - 0} = -1 \end{equation*}
Therefore taking points \((x,y) \text { and } (1,-1),\) the equation of the line of reflection is :
\begin{equation*} y - y_1 = m (x - x_1) \end{equation*}
\begin{equation*} y - -1 = -1 (x - 1) \end{equation*}
\begin{equation*} y + 1 = -x + 1 \end{equation*}
\begin{equation*} y = -x \end{equation*}

Exercises Exercises

1.

Determine if the transformation is a reflection. If it is a reflection, what is the equation of the mirror line?
Line of reflection
Line of reflection

2.

The vertices of a triangle are \(A(1,2),\, B(3,4)\text{ and }C(5,4).\) The vertices of the image are \(A'(1,-2),\, B'(3,-4)\text{ and }C'(5,-4).\) Find the equation of the line of reflection.

3.

The vertices of a a letter \(V\) are \(P(-3,4),\,Q(-3,2)\text{ and }R(-1,2).\) The vertices of the image are \(P'(-1,2),\, Q'(-1,0)\text{ and }R'(1,0).\) Find the equation of the line of reflection.

4.

\(O(0,0)\) is the centre of a circle of radius \(2\,cm.\) If \(O'(2,0)\) is the reflection of the centre of the circle, find the equation of the line of reflection.

Checkpoint 2.2.7.

Checkpoint 2.2.8.