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Unit 1 // Transformations and Polygons Quick Guide

Nov 11, 2025

Overview

Notes cover polygons, symmetry, angle sums, triangle theorems, and transformations including reflections, rotations, translations, and dilations, with objectives, standards, and sample problems.

Polygons and Symmetry

  • Polygon: Closed plane figure with at least three straight sides.
  • Regular polygon: Equilateral and equiangular.
  • Convex: No diagonal has points outside the polygon.
  • Concave: At least one diagonal has points outside the polygon.
  • Reflection symmetry: Line splits a figure into two congruent halves; figures can have multiple lines.

Interior and Exterior Angles

  • Interior angles lie inside a polygon; exterior formed by a side and extension of adjacent side.
  • Sum of exterior angles of any polygon: 360 degrees.
  • Sum of interior angles of a convex n-gon: (n − 2) × 180.
  • Each interior angle of a regular n-gon: ((n − 2) × 180) / n.
  • Each exterior angle of a regular n-gon: 360 / n.

Triangle Theorems

  • Exterior angle of a triangle equals sum of the two non-adjacent interior angles.
  • Proof structure uses linear pair and angle sum relationships to show m∠ext = m∠A + m∠C.

Transformations: Definitions and Rules

  • Translation: (x, y) → (x + h, y + k); h left if negative, k down if negative.
  • Reflection:
    • Over x-axis: (x, y) → (x, −y).
    • Over y-axis: (x, y) → (−x, y).
    • Over y = x: (x, y) → (y, x).
    • Through origin: (x, y) → (−x, −y).
  • Rotation about origin:
    • 90° CCW: (x, y) → (−y, x).
    • 180°: (x, y) → (−x, −y).
    • 270° CCW (or 90° CW): (x, y) → (y, −x).
  • Composition: Order matters; sequences are not generally commutative.

Dilations

  • Dilation scales a figure from a center; preimage becomes image via scale factor k.
  • Coordinate rule about origin: (x, y) → (k x, k y).
  • k > 1 enlargement; 0 < k < 1 reduction; k < 0 includes 180° rotation.
  • Distance not preserved; angles preserved; figures become similar, not congruent.
  • Scale factor from lengths: k = image / preimage (use corresponding sides).

Structured Formulas and Properties

ConceptFormula/RuleNotes
Interior Sum (n-gon)(n − 2) × 180n ≥ 3
Regular Interior Angle((n − 2) × 180) / nDegrees
Exterior Sum (any polygon)360Always
Regular Exterior Angle360 / nDegrees
Translation(x, y) → (x + h, y + k)h left if −, k down if −
Reflect x-axis(x, y) → (x, −y)Distance to axis preserved
Reflect y-axis(x, y) → (−x, y)
Reflect y = x(x, y) → (y, x)Swap coordinates
Rotate 90° CCW(x, y) → (−y, x)About origin
Rotate 180°(x, y) → (−x, −y)About origin
Rotate 270° CCW(x, y) → (y, −x)About origin
Dilation (origin)(x, y) → (k x, k y)k < 0 adds 180° rotation
Triangle Exterior Anglem∠ext = m∠A + m∠CNon-adjacent angles

Example Calculations and Applications

  • Regular polygon with exterior angle 60: n = 360/60 = 6 sides.
  • Interior sum 3240: (n − 2) × 180 = 3240 → n − 2 = 18 → n = 20; each interior = 162; each exterior = 18.
  • Quadrilateral exterior angles sum: 360; used to solve for unknown angles around a point.
  • Determining rotation: A single rotation mapping ABCD to A'B'C'D' can be 90, 180, 270, or 360 about a center; check coordinates to match rules.

Rigid vs Non-Rigid Transformations

  • Rigid (isometries): translations, reflections, rotations; preserve distance and angle; images congruent.
  • Non-rigid: dilations; preserve angle only; images similar.

Common Misconceptions

  • Order of transformations: Changing order can change result; follow given order.
  • Center of dilation: Need not lie on the figure; can be anywhere.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Preimage: Original figure before transformation.
  • Image: Resulting figure after transformation.
  • Center of dilation: Fixed point from which a figure is dilated.
  • Scale factor (k): Multiplier determining size change in dilation.
  • Line of symmetry: Line dividing a figure into congruent halves.
  • Rigid transformation: Preserves distance; isometry.
  • Composition: Applying multiple transformations in sequence.