Math Problem Statement

Explain why no transformation or sequence of translations, rotations, reflections, or dilations moves one figure onto the other.

Explain why no transformation or sequence of translations, rotations, reflections, or dilations moves one figure onto the other.

Solution

The two figures in the image are L-shaped polygons that differ in size, so there is no transformation (translation, rotation, reflection, or dilation) that can map one onto the other.

Here’s why:

  1. Translation: A translation slides a figure without changing its size or orientation. The red figure is much smaller than the purple figure, so translation alone won’t work because the two figures have different dimensions.

  2. Rotation: Rotations change the orientation of a figure, but not its size. Since the shapes have different dimensions, no rotation can map one onto the other without altering the size.

  3. Reflection: A reflection would only flip the figure over an axis but keeps its size and shape. Since the sizes differ, reflection alone cannot map one onto the other.

  4. Dilation: Dilation changes the size of a figure. However, dilating the red figure would not result in the purple figure because the side lengths of the two shapes don’t scale proportionally. For example, in the red figure, the vertical leg is 4 units long, but in the purple figure, the vertical leg is 6 units long. This is not a proportional scaling factor compared to other parts of the figure.

In conclusion, the two figures differ in both their dimensions and proportions, and no combination of transformations can map one onto the other.

Would you like more details on any part of this explanation?

Here are 5 related questions to think about:

  1. What would be the proportional scaling factor required for a dilation?
  2. How would you determine if two figures are congruent or similar?
  3. Can dilation ever change the orientation of a figure?
  4. What is the effect of combining multiple transformations, such as translation and rotation?
  5. How would you mathematically describe the difference in the dimensions of these two shapes?

Tip: Always check if figures are proportionally similar before considering transformations like dilation.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Geometric Transformations
Dilations
Translations
Rotations
Reflections
Proportions

Formulas

Dilation: (x, y) → (kx, ky)
Translation: (x, y) → (x + a, y + b)
Rotation: Rotation matrix R(θ)
Reflection: Over axes or lines

Theorems

Congruence Theorem
Similarity Theorem

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 6-8