Translating Shapes
Learn how to translate shapes on a grid using column vectors. Letβs get started! π

Video Lesson
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Flashcards
Review key concepts visually
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ποΈ Translation: Sliding a Shape
- A translation moves a shape without changing its size or orientation.
- Every point shifts the same distance in the same direction.
ποΈ Column Vectors
- The top number shows the horizontal movement, where positive is right and negative is left.
- The bottom number shows the vertical movement, where positive is up and negative is down.
ποΈ Translating 2D Shapes
- You move all vertices using the same column vector, then connect them.
- The shape stays identical, just in a new position.
ποΈ Finding the Column Vector
- Count how far a point moves left or right first.
- Then count how far it moves up or down.
Practice Questions
Test your understanding
What does column vector mean?
Correct! π +10 pointsNot quite right
The negative value tells us to move 4 units left, and the positive value tells us to move 2 units up.
What does column vector mean?
Correct! π +10 pointsNot quite right
The negative value tells us to move 3 units left, and the negative value tells us to move 6 units down.
Shape A is translated to Shape B by moving 7 units to the right and 3 units down. What is the column vector for this translation?
Correct! π +20 pointsNot quite right
The positive 7 on the top means moving 7 units to the right, and the -3 at the bottom means moving 3 units down.
Write down the column vector shown in the diagram.

Correct! π +20 pointsNot quite right
To read a column vector from a diagram, start at the beginning of the arrow. First count the horizontal movement. It is 5 units to the left, so the top number is -5. Then count the vertical movement. It is 2 units down, so the bottom number is -2. That gives the vector .
A point starts at and is translated using the column vector . What are the new coordinates of the point?
Correct! π +20 pointsNot quite right
To find the new coordinates, subtract 3 from the -coordinate: and subtract 4 from the -coordinate: , which gives .
Shape M is translated to Shape N as shown in the diagram. Find the column vector for this translation.

Correct! π +30 pointsNot quite right
To find the column vector, count the horizontal movement (5 units left) and the vertical movement (3 units up). This gives the vector .
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Interactive Activity
Translate shapes with column vectors on a grid
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