Rotation
See It in Action
Two examples of the idea done right—and one common look-alike that is not right.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
NON-EXAMPLE
Definition
A rotation is a transformation that turns a figure around a fixed point, called the center of rotation, through a specified angle and direction.
Key Points:
It is a type of rigid motion, meaning the figure’s size and shape stay the same.
The center of rotation does not move.
Each point in the figure moves along a circular arc around the center.
The angle of rotation tells how far the figure is turned (e.g., 90°, 180°, 270°).
A positive angle means counterclockwise rotation.
A negative angle means clockwise rotation.
Example:
Rotating a rectangle 180° about the origin turns the entire shape around the origin, producing an image that is congruent but in a new orientation.
