Lesson 8

Moves in Parallel

Let’s transform some lines.

8.1: Line Moves

For each diagram, describe a translation, rotation, or reflection that takes line \(\ell\) to line \(\ell’\). Then plot and label \(A’\) and \(B’\), the images of \(A\) and \(B\).

  1. Two parallel lines. One is labelled L and has points A and B labelled on it. The other line is labelled L prime.
  2. Two lines, one labelled L, on labelled L prime. They intersect at a point A. another point, labelled B is on line L.

8.2: Parallel Lines

Three parallel lines. One is labelled A. One is labelled with B. There is a point on line B labelled with a K. The third line is labelled H.

Use a piece of tracing paper to trace lines \(a\) and \(b\) and point \(K\). Then use that tracing paper to draw the images of the lines under the three different transformations listed.

As you perform each transformation, think about the question:

What is the image of two parallel lines under a rigid transformation?

  1. Translate lines \(a\) and \(b\) 3 units up and 2 units to the right.

    1. What do you notice about the changes that occur to lines \(a\) and \(b\) after the translation?
    2. What is the same in the original and the image?
  2. Rotate lines \(a\) and \(b\) counterclockwise 180 degrees using \(K\) as the center of rotation.

    1. What do you notice about the changes that occur to lines \(a\) and \(b\) after the rotation?
    2. What is the same in the original and the image?

  3. Reflect lines \(a\) and \(b\) across line \(h\).

    1. What do you notice about the changes that occur to lines \(a\) and \(b\) after the reflection?
    2. What is the same in the original and the image?


When you rotate two parallel lines, sometimes the two original lines intersect their images and form a quadrilateral. What is the most specific thing you can say about this quadrilateral? Can it be a square? A rhombus? A rectangle that isn’t a square? Explain your reasoning.

Two identical pairs of intersecting parallel lines, creating an equilateral quadrilateral without right angles.

8.3: Let’s Do Some 180’s

  1. The diagram shows a line with points labeled \(A\), \(C\), \(D\), and \(B\)
    1. On the diagram, draw the image of the line and points \(A\), \(C\), and \(B\) after the line has been rotated 180 degrees around point \(D\).

    2. Label the images of the points \(A’\), \(B’\), and \(C’\).

    3. What is the order of all seven points? Explain or show your reasoning.

    Four points on a line, labelled in order: A, C, D, B.
  2. The diagram shows a line with points \(A\) and \(C\) on the line and a segment \(AD\) where \(D\) is not on the line.
    1. Rotate the figure 180 degrees about point \(C\). Label the image of \(A\) as \(A’\) and the image of \(D\) as \(D’\).

    2. What do you know about the relationship between angle \(CAD\) and angle \(CA’D’\)? Explain or show your reasoning.

    A line with points A and C on the line and a segment A D where D is not on the line
  3. The diagram shows two lines \(\ell\) and \(m\) that intersect at a point \(O\) with point \(A\) on \(\ell\) and point \(D\) on \(m\).
    1. Rotate the figure 180 degrees around \(O\). Label the image of \(A\) as \(A’\) and the image of \(D\) as \(D’\).

    2. What do you know about the relationship between the angles in the figure? Explain or show your reasoning.

    The diagram shows two lines L and M that intersect at a point O with point A on L and point D on M

Summary

Rigid transformations have the following properties:

  • A rigid transformation of a line is a line.

  • A rigid transformation of two parallel lines results in two parallel lines that are the same distance apart as the original two lines.

  • Sometimes, a rigid transformation takes a line to itself. For example:

    A line, labelled M. Points A, B, F, B prime and A prime are labelled on the line. A line of reflection intersects the line at point F and is perpendicular to the line M.
    • A translation parallel to the line. The arrow shows a translation of line \(m\) that will take \(m\) to itself.

    • A rotation by \(180^\circ\) around any point on the line. A \(180^\circ\) rotation of line \(m\) around point \(F\) will take \(m\) to itself.

    • A reflection across any line perpendicular to the line. A reflection of line \(m\) across the dashed line will take \(m\) to itself.

These facts let us make an important conclusion. If two lines intersect at a point, which we’ll call \(O\), then a \(180^\circ\) rotation of the lines with center \(O\) shows that vertical angles are congruent. Here is an example:

A pair of lines that intersect at point O. Two pairs of congruent vertical angles are labelled.

Rotating both lines by \(180^\circ\) around \(O\) sends angle \(AOC\) to angle \(A’OC’\), proving that they have the same measure. The rotation also sends angle \(AOC’\) to angle \(A’OC\).

Glossary Entries

  • corresponding

    When part of an original figure matches up with part of a copy, we call them corresponding parts. These could be points, segments, angles, or distances.

    For example, point \(B\) in the first triangle corresponds to point \(E\) in the second triangle. Segment \(AC\) corresponds to segment \(DF\).

    2 triangles with corresponding parts
  • rigid transformation

    A rigid transformation is a move that does not change any measurements of a figure. Translations, rotations, and reflections are rigid transformations, as is any sequence of these.

  • vertical angles

    Vertical angles are opposite angles that share the same vertex. They are formed by a pair of intersecting lines. Their angle measures are equal.

    For example, angles \(AEC\) and \(DEB\) are vertical angles. If angle \(AEC\) measures \(120^\circ\), then angle \(DEB\) must also measure \(120^\circ\).

    Angles \(AED\) and \(BEC\) are another pair of vertical angles.

    a pair of intersecting lines that create vertical angles