Finding the Direction of Rotation

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 11 views

Rotation is a fundamental concept in coordinate geometry, where a point is transformed from its original position to a new position through a specific angle. In this article, we will explore the concept of rotation, specifically a 90-degree rotation, and how it affects the coordinates of a point.

What is a 90-Degree Rotation?

A 90-degree rotation is a transformation that rotates a point by 90 degrees around a fixed point, known as the center of rotation. This rotation can be clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on the direction of rotation. In this case, we are dealing with a counterclockwise rotation.

The Pre-Image and Image Points

The pre-image point $K$ has coordinates $(2,-6)$ , and its image $K^{\prime}$ has coordinates $(-6,-2)$ . We need to find the direction of the rotation.

Finding the Direction of Rotation

To find the direction of rotation, we can use the concept of slope. The slope of a line is a measure of how steep it is. If the slope of the line connecting the pre-image point and the image point is positive, then the rotation is counterclockwise. If the slope is negative, then the rotation is clockwise.

Calculating the Slope

The slope of the line connecting the pre-image point and the image point can be calculated using the formula:

m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}

where $(x_1, y_1)$ is the pre-image point and $(x_2, y_2)$ is the image point.

Plugging in the values, we get:

m = \frac{-2 - (-6)}{-6 - 2} = \frac{4}{-8} = -\frac{1}{2}

Interpreting the Slope

Since the slope is negative, the rotation is clockwise.

Conclusion

In this article, we explored the concept of rotation in coordinate geometry, specifically a 90-degree rotation. We found that the direction of rotation is clockwise, given the pre-image point $(2,-6)$ and its image point $(-6,-2)$ .

Key Takeaways

A 90-degree rotation is a transformation that rotates a point by 90 degrees around a fixed point.
The direction of rotation can be determined by calculating the slope of the line connecting the pre-image point and the image point.
If the slope is positive, the rotation is counterclockwise. If the slope is negative, the rotation is clockwise.

References

Coordinate Geometry
Rotation in Coordinate Geometry
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Rotation in Coordinate Geometry ====================================================================

In this article, we will address some of the most common questions about rotation in coordinate geometry.

Q: What is rotation in coordinate geometry?

A: Rotation in coordinate geometry is a transformation that rotates a point by a certain angle around a fixed point, known as the center of rotation.

Q: What are the different types of rotations?

A: There are two main types of rotations: clockwise and counterclockwise. A clockwise rotation is a rotation that moves a point in a clockwise direction, while a counterclockwise rotation is a rotation that moves a point in a counterclockwise direction.

Q: How do I determine the direction of rotation?

A: To determine the direction of rotation, you can calculate the slope of the line connecting the pre-image point and the image point. If the slope is positive, the rotation is counterclockwise. If the slope is negative, the rotation is clockwise.

Q: What is the formula for calculating the slope of a line?

A: The formula for calculating the slope of a line is:

m = \frac{y_2 - y_1}{x_2 - x_1}

where $(x_1, y_1)$ is the pre-image point and $(x_2, y_2)$ is the image point.

Q: How do I find the coordinates of the image point after a rotation?

A: To find the coordinates of the image point after a rotation, you can use the following formulas:

x^{\prime} = x \cos \theta - y \sin \theta

y^{\prime} = x \sin \theta + y \cos \theta

where $(x, y)$ is the pre-image point, $\theta$ is the angle of rotation, and $(x^{\prime}, y^{\prime})$ is the image point.

Q: What is the center of rotation?

A: The center of rotation is the fixed point around which the rotation takes place.

Q: How do I find the center of rotation?

A: To find the center of rotation, you can use the following formula:

(h, k) = \left( \frac{x_1 + x_2}{2}, \frac{y_1 + y_2}{2} \right)

where $(x_1, y_1)$ is the pre-image point and $(x_2, y_2)$ is the image point.

Q: What is the difference between a rotation and a translation?

A: A rotation is a transformation that rotates a point by a certain angle around a fixed point, while a translation is a transformation that moves a point by a certain distance in a certain direction.

Q: Can I rotate a point by any angle?

A: Yes, you can rotate a point by any angle. However, the rotation may not be a simple rotation if the angle is not a multiple of 90 degrees.

Q: How do I graph a rotation?

A: To graph a rotation, you can use a coordinate plane and plot the pre-image point and the image point. Then, draw a line connecting the two points and rotate the line by the desired angle.

Conclusion

In this article, we addressed some of the most common questions about rotation in coordinate geometry. We hope that this article has provided you with a better understanding of rotation and how it can be used to transform points in a coordinate plane.