Steply

Rotate A(-1, 1) B(1, 1) C(1, 3) 90° clockwise about (0, -1)

Step by step, with the reason for every step · Rotation about a point · Geometry

Step by step

The question

Question: rotate the shape A(−1, 1), B(1, 1) and C(1, 3) 90° clockwise about the point (0, −1).

A(−1, 1), B(1, 1) and C(1, 3)
= 90° clockwise about (0, −1)

1 Draw the shape

Put the points on the grid and join them.

The center of the turn is (0, −1).

Everything turns about this point.

2 Turn one point

Clockwise means the way the hands of a clock turn.

clockwise = the way a clock turns

From the center to A: go left 1

then up 2.

Now turn 90° clockwise about the center.

The path from the center turns too.

Left 1 turns into up 1.

Up 2 turns into right 2.

We land on A', (2, 0).

We call the new point A prime.

The little mark means: the new A.

3 Find the rule

Now the same with numbers, for A.

The turn rules we know turn about the origin.

So first we move the center to the origin: take (0, −1) away from A.

A is (−1, 2) from the center.

1. take away the center: (−1 − 0, 1 − (−1)) = (−1, 2)

Turn 90° clockwise: the rule (x, y) goes to (y, −x).

(−1, 2) becomes (2, 1).

2. turn: (x, y) → (y, −x): (−1, 2) → (2, 1)

Then move back: add (0, −1).

We get (2, 0): A', the same as on the grid!

3. add the center back: (2 + 0, 1 + (−1)) = (2, 0)

Careful!

That is a turn about the origin.

The center here is (0, −1), so we take it away first and add it back at the end.

Careful: not A'(1, 1) ✗

4 Turn the other points

B: take away the center, (1, 2).

Turn: (2, −1).

Add the center back: (2, −2).

B: (1, 2) → (2, −1) → B'(2, −2)

C: take away the center, (1, 4).

Turn: (4, −1).

Add the center back: (4, −2).

C: (1, 4) → (4, −1) → C'(4, −2)

Join the new points.

This new shape is called the image.

So the image is A'(2, 0), B'(2, −2) and C'(4, −2).

A'(2, 0), B'(2, −2) and C'(4, −2)

5 Check

Let's check C.

Join the center to C

and the center to C'.

From the center, C is (1, 4) away and C' is (4, −1) away.

Both have length √17: the same distance, as a turn must keep.

center → C: (1, 4), center → C': (4, −1): both √17 long

They make a right angle: a quarter turn.

A quarter turn, clockwise.

Right!

a right angle at the center: a quarter turn

Let's look back.

First: draw the shape.

Then: turn one point.

Then: find the rule.

Then: turn the other points.

Last: check.

Answer
A'(2, 0), B'(2, −2) and C'(4, −2)

Your turn

Try this one yourself, then check:

A(−3, 2) B(−1, 2) C(−1, 4): 90° clockwise about (0, −1)
Show the answer
A'(3, 2), B'(3, 0) and C'(5, 0)

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