You are not logged in.
#1 2012-12-01 11:45:40
- Sparky
- Guest
Question about rotation
A square has coordinates (-3, 2), (1, 3), (2, -1), and (-2, -2). It is rotated so that:
(-3, 2) goes to (3, 8)
(1, 3) goes to (4, 4)
(2, -1) goes to (0, 3)
(-2, -2) goes to (-1, 7)
I know that the angle of rotation here is 90 degrees because the line going through points (-3, 2) and (1,3) is perpendicular to the line going through points (3, 8) and (4, 4). However, I have a couple of questions:
1) How do I find the center of rotation? Is it simply the center of the original square, which is (-1/2, 1/2)?
2) Is there a way to get the same rotation for the square using a composition of 2 reflections? How would this work?
Thanks in advance!
#2 2012-12-01 12:22:46
- scientia
- Full Member
Offline
Re: Question about rotation
Suppose the centre of the rotation is (a,b). This rotation takes the point (2,−1) to (0,3). Then the same rotation about the origin would take the point (2−a,−1−b) to (−a,3−b). (And the other points correspondingly, but we only need one point to work out a and b.)
The matrix representing a clockwise rotation of 90° about the origin is
Hence
Solving the simultaneous equations gives .
#3 2012-12-01 19:40:00
- bob bundy
- Moderator
Offline
Re: Question about rotation
hi Sparky,
Welcome to the forum.
2) Is there a way to get the same rotation for the square using a composition of 2 reflections? How would this work?
Yes. See diagram.
How did I get those two lines of reflection?
Well firstly, the centre of rotation doesn't move when rotated. It is called an invariant point.
So make sure it doesn't move when reflected by making the two lines cross there.
Because the angle of rotation is 90 I started with a line at 45.
(There is a rule for the relationship between the two angles of the reflections and the angle of rotation. I'd have to experiment a bit to remind myself what it is. Post again if you are interested.)
So I made a line at 45 though (3,2) and constructed the reflection. It was then fairly obvious where the second line should go.
I've labelled the half way square B" and so on.
Bob
ps. Could I have sloped that first 45 line the other way? I think I could. I'll leave that as an exercise for you.
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
#4 2012-12-01 21:03:47
- anonimnystefy
- Real Member
Offline
Re: Question about rotation
Hi Bob
The angle of rotation is twice the angle between the two lines.
The limit operator is just an excuse for doing something you know you can't.
“It's the subject that nobody knows anything about that we can all talk about!” ― Richard Feynman
“A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept.” ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón
#5 2012-12-01 22:15:09
- bob bundy
- Moderator
Offline
Re: Question about rotation
hi Stefy,
That's what I remembered, but, in this example the situation is confused by clockwise and anticlockwise measuring, so I thought I'd avoid saying anything in case I was wrong.
Bob
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself..........Galileo Galilei
#6 2012-12-01 22:31:20
- anonimnystefy
- Real Member
Offline
Re: Question about rotation
Well, it depends on which line you are rotating around first...
The limit operator is just an excuse for doing something you know you can't.
“It's the subject that nobody knows anything about that we can all talk about!” ― Richard Feynman
“A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept.” ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón