Skills sheet F12: matrices and transformations

Key Points



A matrix provides a way of describing a linear transformation of the plane. Linear
transformations include rotations, reflections, and enlargements, but not translations.



A matrix consists of an array of numbers, and maps a vector to another vector:



(


) (

) (


)



Notice that you go along the rows of the matrix, and down the column of the vector,
multiplying the terms together as you go.



You can transform points on the plane using a matrix by considering the position vectors
of those points.



Example 1
The transformation represented by the
matrix (


) maps the point to
the point because
(


) (

) (

)
Example 2
The transformation represented by the
matrix (


) maps the point to
the point because
(


) (

) (

)



A linear transformation is fully determined by its effect on the vectors (

) and (

).
To find the matrix that represents a linear transformation, use the fact that the image of
the vector (

) is the first column of the matrix, and the image of (

) is the second
column of the matrix.



Example 3
Find the matrix that represents a rotation of
anticlockwise about the origin.
Solution: By geometry we can see that
under the given transformation
(

) (

) and (

) (

)
These image vectors are the columns of the
matrix, so the matrix is (


)

Example 4
Find the matrix that represents a reflection
in the line .
Solution: By geometry we can see that
under the given transformation
(

) (

) and (

) (

)
These image vectors are the columns of the
matrix, so the matrix is (


)




The identity matrix, , is the matrix that represents doing nothing, and maps a vector to
itself:
(


)



(

) maps to (

)

(

) maps to (

)

(

) maps to (

)

(

) maps to (

)

Questions
1. Calculate the following:
a. (


) (

) b. (


) (

) c. (


) (

)
d. (


) (

) e. (


) (

) f. (


) (

)
g. (


) (

) h. (


) (

) i. (


) (

)
2. A transformation is represented by the matrix (


). Find to where this transformation maps
the point with coordinates .
3. By considering the image of the unit square, describe the transformation represented by the
following matrices:
a. (


) b. (


) c. (


)
4. Find matrices that represent the following transformations:
a. Rotation of about the origin (in Further Maths, if no direction of rotation is specified,
then positive rotations are anticlockwise; so this is a rotation of , or clockwise).
b. Reflection in the -axis.
c. Reflection in the line .
d. Enlargement of scale factor centred on the origin.