# Nakafa Framework: LLM URL: https://nakafa.com/en/subject/high-school/11/mathematics/geometric-transformation/reflection-over-x-axis Source: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nakafaai/nakafa.com/refs/heads/main/packages/contents/subject/high-school/11/mathematics/geometric-transformation/reflection-over-x-axis/en.mdx Output docs content for large language models. --- import { LineEquation } from "@repo/design-system/components/contents/line-equation"; import { getColor } from "@repo/design-system/lib/color"; export const metadata = { title: "Reflection over X Axis", description: "Master X-axis reflection transformations. Learn how coordinates change (x,y) to (x,-y) with triangles, lines, and interactive visualizations.", authors: [{ name: "Nabil Akbarazzima Fatih" }], date: "05/10/2025", subject: "Geometric Transformation", }; ## Understanding Reflection across the X-Axis Reflection across the X-axis is a type of geometric transformation that moves every point of an object to a new position symmetrical to the X-axis. Imagine the X-axis as a flat mirror. If a point has coordinates , then its reflection, which we'll call , will have the same -coordinate, but its -coordinate will be the negative of the original value. Mathematically, if the initial point is , then after reflection across the X-axis, its image is . ### Visualizing Points and Their Reflections Let's observe some points and their reflections after being mirrored across the X-axis. Notice how the -coordinate changes sign, while the -coordinate remains the same. Visualization of points and their reflections after mirroring across the X-axis. } cameraPosition={[0, 0, 15]} showZAxis={false} data={[ ...[ { x: -5, y: 2, label: "A" }, { x: -3, y: 1, label: "B" }, { x: 1, y: 2, label: "C" }, { x: 4, y: -2, label: "D" }, ].map((p, i) => ({ points: [ { x: p.x, y: p.y, z: 0 }, { x: p.x, y: p.y, z: 0 }, // Single point ], color: getColor("AMBER"), labels: [{ text: p.label, at: 0, offset: [0.3, 0.3, 0] }], showPoints: true, })), ...[ { x: -5, y: -2, label: "A'" }, { x: -3, y: -1, label: "B'" }, { x: 1, y: -2, label: "C'" }, { x: 4, y: 2, label: "D'" }, ].map((p, i) => ({ points: [ { x: p.x, y: p.y, z: 0 }, { x: p.x, y: p.y, z: 0 }, // Single point ], color: getColor("CYAN"), labels: [{ text: p.label, at: 0, offset: [0.3, 0.3, 0] }], showPoints: true, })), ]} /> Based on the interactive visualization above, we can observe the relationship between the original points (pre-image) and their reflections (image) as follows: - Point becomes - Point becomes - Point becomes - Point becomes The visible pattern is that the value remains constant, and the value changes sign (becomes its opposite). ## Property of Reflection across the X-Axis Based on the observations above, we can formulate the property of reflection across the X-axis: This means the image of point reflected across the X-axis is . The X-axis in this case acts as the line . ## Application Examples ### Reflecting a Triangle Determine the image of triangle with vertices , , and reflected across the X-axis. To determine the image of triangle , we apply the reflection property to each of its vertices:
Consequently, the image of triangle is triangle with vertices , , and . Reflection of Triangle across the X-Axis } description={ <> Visualization of triangle and its reflection after mirroring across the X-axis. } cameraPosition={[0, 0, 15]} showZAxis={false} data={[ // Triangle ABC (Original) ...[ { from: { x: -1, y: 4, z: 0, label: "A" }, to: { x: 2, y: 1, z: 0, label: "B" }, }, { from: { x: 2, y: 1, z: 0, label: "B" }, to: { x: -2, y: -1, z: 0, label: "C" }, }, { from: { x: -2, y: -1, z: 0, label: "C" }, to: { x: -1, y: 4, z: 0, label: "A" }, }, ].map((segment) => ({ points: [segment.from, segment.to], color: getColor("ORANGE"), showPoints: true, labels: [ { text: segment.from.label, at: 0, offset: [0.3, 0.3, 0], }, { text: segment.to.label, at: 1, offset: [0.3, 0.3, 0] }, ], })), // Triangle A'B'C' (Reflected) ...[ { from: { x: -1, y: -4, z: 0, label: "A'" }, to: { x: 2, y: -1, z: 0, label: "B'" }, }, { from: { x: 2, y: -1, z: 0, label: "B'" }, to: { x: -2, y: 1, z: 0, label: "C'" }, }, { from: { x: -2, y: 1, z: 0, label: "C'" }, to: { x: -1, y: -4, z: 0, label: "A'" }, }, ].map((segment) => ({ points: [segment.from, segment.to], color: getColor("PURPLE"), showPoints: true, labels: [ { text: segment.from.label, at: 0, offset: [0.3, 0.3, 0], }, { text: segment.to.label, at: 1, offset: [0.3, 0.3, 0] }, ], })), ]} /> ### Reflecting a Line If a line has the equation and is reflected across the X-axis, determine the equation of its reflected line. **Alternative Solution:** Let an arbitrary point lie on the line . Then, the following holds: The point reflected across the X-axis produces the image . To obtain the equation of the reflected line, we substitute the coordinates of the image into new variables. Let and . From this, we get and . Substitute and into the original equation :
Since and are arbitrary variables representing the coordinates on the reflected line, we can rewrite them as and . Thus, the equation of the reflected line is:
Reflection of Line across the X-Axis } description={ <> The original line (lime green) and its reflection (magenta) after mirroring. } cameraPosition={[0, 0, 15]} showZAxis={false} data={[ { // Original Line: 2x - 3y = 0 => y = (2/3)x points: [ { x: -6, y: (2 / 3) * -6, z: 0 }, { x: 6, y: (2 / 3) * 6, z: 0 }, ], color: getColor("LIME"), labels: [{ text: "2x - 3y = 0", at: 1, offset: [0.5, 0.5, 0] }], }, { // Reflected Line: 2x + 3y = 0 => y = -(2/3)x points: [ { x: -6, y: -(2 / 3) * -6, z: 0 }, { x: 6, y: -(2 / 3) * 6, z: 0 }, ], color: getColor("MAGENTA"), labels: [{ text: "2x + 3y = 0", at: 1, offset: [0.5, -0.5, 0] }], }, ]} />
This shows how the equation of a line changes after being reflected across the X-axis.