A line segment goes from (1,2) to (4,7). The line segment is reflected across x=6, reflected across y=1, and then dilated about (1,1) by a factor of 2. How far are the new endpoints from the origin?

1 Answer
Jul 7, 2016

Original segment A0B0, where A0=(1,2),B0=(4,7),
is transformed into AB, where A=(21,9),B=(15,19).
The distances from the origin to the new endpoints are
dA22.8
dB24.2

Explanation:

  1. Reflection of a point with coordinates (a0,b0) relative to a line x=6 (vertical line intersecting X-axis at coordinate x=6) will be horizontally shifted into a new X-coordinate obtained by adding to an X-coordinate of the axis of symmetry (x=6) the distance from it of the original X-coordinates (6a0).
    Y-coordinate remains the same in this transformation.
    So, new coordinates are:
    (a1,b1)=(6+(6a0),b0)=(12a0,b0)

  2. Reflection of a point with coordinates (a1,b1) relative to a line y=1 (horizontal line intersecting Y-axis at coordinate y=1) will be vertically shifted into a new Y-coordinate obtained by adding to an Y-coordinate of the axis of symmetry (y=1) the distance from it of the original Y-coordinates (1b1).
    X-coordinate remains the same in this transformation.
    So, new coordinates are:
    (a2,b2)=(a1,1+(1b1))=
    =(a1,2b1)=(12a0,2b0)

  3. Dilation about a center point (1,1) by a factor of 2 will transform a point (a2,b2) into
    (a3,b3)=(1+2(a21),1+2(b21))=
    =(1+2(12a01),1+2(2b01))=
    =(232a0,52b0)

  4. Using this formula for both ends of our original segment AB, where A(1,2) and B=(4,7):
    4.1. (a0=1,b0=2)
    (a3=2321,b3=522)=
    =(21,9)
    4.2. (a0=4,b0=7)
    (a3=2324,b3=527)=
    =(15,19)

  5. The distance of each end of a new segment from the origin are
    dA=(21)2+(9)2=55222.8
    dB=(15)2+(19)2=58624.2