Understanding Reflection over the Y-Axis in Mathematics | Flipping Points and Objects on a Coordinate Plane

reflection over y axis

In mathematics, the reflection over the y-axis is a transformation that involves flipping an object or a point across the y-axis

In mathematics, the reflection over the y-axis is a transformation that involves flipping an object or a point across the y-axis. The y-axis is the vertical line on a coordinate plane, and reflecting over it essentially means reversing the x-coordinates of the points while keeping the y-coordinates constant.

To understand this concept, let’s consider a point (x, y) in a coordinate plane. If we want to reflect this point over the y-axis, we need to reverse the sign of the x-coordinate. So, the reflected point would be (-x, y).

For example, if we have a point A(3, 4) on a coordinate plane and want to reflect it over the y-axis, the reflected point A’ would have the coordinates (-3, 4). Notice that the y-coordinate remains the same while the x-coordinate is negated.

Similarly, for any shape or object on a coordinate plane, each point of the object gets reflected across the y-axis. This results in a mirror image of the original object, where all points are equidistant from the y-axis from both sides.

It is important to note that when reflecting a point or an object over the y-axis, only the x-coordinate changes, while the y-coordinate remains unchanged.

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