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Rotations review

Review the basics of rotations, and then perform some rotations.

What is a rotation?

A rotation is a type of transformation that takes each point in a figure and rotates it a certain number of degrees around a given point.
For example, this animation shows a rotation of pentagon I, D, E, A, L about the point left parenthesis, 0, comma, minus, 1, right parenthesis. You can see the angle of rotation at the bottom, which increases the further we rotate the figure from its original position.
The result of a rotation is a new figure, called the image. The image is congruent to the original figure.
Want to learn more about different types of transformations? Check out this video.

Performing rotations

Although a figure can be rotated any number of degrees, the rotation will usually be a common angle such as 45, degreesor 180, degrees.
If the number of degrees are positive, the figure will rotate counter-clockwise.
If the number of degrees are negative, the figure will rotate clockwise.
The figure can rotate around any given point.
Example:
Rotate triangle, O, A, R 60, degrees about point left parenthesis, minus, 2, comma, minus, 3, right parenthesis.
The center of rotation is left parenthesis, minus, 2, comma, minus, 3, right parenthesis.
Rotation by 60, degrees moves each point about left parenthesis, minus, 2, comma, minus, 3, right parenthesis in a counter-clockwise direction. The rotation maps triangle, O, A, R onto the triangle below.
Want to learn more about performing rotations? Check out this video.

Practice

Problem 1
triangle, N, O, W is rotated 90, degrees about the origin.
Draw the image of this rotation.

Want to try more problems like this? Check out this exercise.

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