Glide Reflection- Definition and Process with Examples

Key Concepts

• Understand glide reflection
• Use glide reflection to solve problems
• Compositions of transformations
• Composition theorem
• Find an image of composition

Glide reflection

A translation followed by a reflection can be performed one after the other to produce a glide reflection. A translation can be called a glide. A glide reflection is a transformation in which every point P is mapped to a point P” by the following steps. 

Step 1: First, a translation maps P to P’. 

Step 2: Then, a reflection in a line k parallel to the direction of the translation maps P’ to P”. 

Finding the image of a glide reflection

Let us understand the concept with an example: 

Example: 

The vertices of ∆ABC are A(3, 2), B(6, 3), and C(7, 1). Find the image of ∆ABC after the glide reflection. 

Translation: (x, y) → (x – 12, y)  

Reflection: In the x-axis 

Solution: 

Begin by graphing

∆ABC. Then graph ∆A’B’C’ after a translation of 12 units left. Finally, graph ∆A”B”C” after a reflection in the x-axis. 

Compositions of transformations

When two or more transformations are combined to form a single transformation, the result is a composition of transformations.  

A glide reflection is an example of a composition of transformations. 

Composition Theorem

Given: A rotation about P maps Q to Q’ and R to R’. A reflection in m maps Q’ to Q” and R’ to R”.  

To prove:  QR = Q”R”  

Proof: 

Rotation is an isometry, so QR= Q’R’ 

Reflection is an isometry, so Q’R’ = Q”R” 

• QR =Q’R’ = Q”R” 
• QR= Q”R” 

Finding the image of composition

The endpoints of RS are R(1, -3) and S(2, -6). Graph the image of RS- after the composition.  

Reflection: In the y-axis  

Rotation: 90° about the origin. 

Solution: 

Step 1: Graph RS

Step 2: Reflect RS in the y-axis. R′S′ has endpoints R’(-1, -3) and S’(-2, -6). 

Step 3: Rotate R’S’ 90 ° about the origin. R”S” has endpoints R’’(3, -1) and S’’(6, -2). 

Examples: 

1. The endpoints of CD−CD- are C(2, -5) and D(4, 0). Graph the image of CD−CD- after the glide reflection. 

Translation: (x, y) → (x, y – 1) 

Reflection: In the y-axis 

Solution: 

Given the endpoints of CD- are C(2, -5) and D(4, 0). 

Translation rule here is (x, y) → (x, y – 1); now, let us translate the points C and D. 

C(2, -5) à  C’(2, -5-1) = C’(2,-6) 

D(4, 0) à D’(4, 0-1) = D’(4, -1) 

Now let us graph CD- and C′D′-. 

Now we need to reflect

C′D′- about y-axis. 

We know that Coordinate notation for reflection along the y-axis:  

Multiply the x-coordinate by -1. 

(x, y) à (-x, y) 

C’(2,-6) àC”(-2,-6) 

D’(4, -1) à D”(-4,-1) 

Now let us graph C”D”

2. The vertices of ΔABC are P(2, 4), Q(6, 0), and R(7, 2). Graph the image of Δ∆ABC after the composition of the transformations in the order they are listed. 

Translation: (x, y) → (x, y – 5) 

Reflection: In the y-axis 

Solution: 

Given coordinates of triangle PQR are P(2, 4), Q(6, 0), and R(7, 2). 

Here, the translation rule is (x, y) → (x, y – 5). 

A(2, 4) à A’(2, 4-5) = A’(2, -1) 

B(6, 0) à B’(6, 0-5) = B’(6,-5) 

C(7, 2) à C’(7, 2- 5) =C’(7, -3) 

Now let us graph ΔABC and ΔA′B′C′

Now we need to reflect the ΔA′B′C′ in the y−axis.

Coordinate notation for reflection along the y-axis:  

Multiply the x-coordinate by -1. 

(x, y) à (-x, y) 

A’(2, -1) à A’’(-2,-1) 

B’(6,-5) à B’’(-6,-5) 

C’(7, -3) à C’’(-7,-3) 

Now let us graph ΔA′’B′’C′’

. 

Exercise

• The endpoints of (AB) ̅ are A(2, -5) and B(4, 0). Graph the image of (AB) ̅ after the glide reflection.
• Translation: (x, y) → (x- 3, y)
• Reflection: In y = -1
• The vertices of ∆PQR are P(2, 4), Q(6, 0), and R(7, 2). Graph the image of ∆PQR after the composition of the transformations in the order they are listed.
• Translation: (x, y) → (x – 3, y + 2)
• Reflection: In the x- axis.
• The endpoints of (AB) ̅ are A(2, -5) and B(4, 0). Graph the image of (AB) ̅ after the glide reflection.
• Translation: (x, y) → (x- 3, y-2)
• Reflection: In the x – axis
• The endpoints of (AB) ̅ are A(2, -5) and B(4, 0). Graph the image of (AB) ̅ after the glide reflection.
• Translation: (x, y) → (x- 3, y-2)
• Reflection: In the y = x
• The endpoints of (AB) ̅ are A(2, -5) and B(4, 0). Graph the image of (AB) ̅ after the glide reflection.
• Translation: (x, y) → (x- 3, y+2)
• Reflection: In the y = -x
• The vertices of ∆PQR are P(2, 4), Q(6, 0), and R(7, 2). Graph the image of ∆PQR after the composition of the transformations in the order they are listed.
• Translation: (x, y) → (x – 3, y + 2) Reflection: In y = x.
• Describe the composition of transformation.

• Describe the type of composition of transformation.

• Describe the type of composition of transformation.

  Concept Map

What we have learned

• Understand glide reflection
• Use glide reflection to solve problems
• Compositions of transformations
• Composition theorem
• Find an image of composition

FAQs 

1. What is the glide reflection order? 

Ans) Glide reflections can happen either before or after translation, depending on the situation. The final image produced by the glide reflection will be the same in either case. 

2. What does a glide reflection look like? 

Ans) Footprints in the sand or the leaves of a tree are two examples of glide reflections in the real world. The final image is produced by reflecting and translating the shape in each of these examples. 

3. Glide reflections: what are they? 

Ans) A transformation with both a reflection and a translation is referred to as a glide reflection. Although both are necessary to produce the final image of a glide reflection, the modifications can take place in any direction.