Transformations are like magical movements that we use to change the position, size, and shape of shapes in geometry. There are different types of transformations, but three of the most important ones are translations, rotations, and symmetries.
A translation is like sliding a shape from one place to another without changing its shape or size. Imagine moving a book from one side of a table to the other side - the book hasn't changed at all, it's just in a different place. In geometry, we can translate shapes by moving them up, down, left or right, using a set distance and direction.
A rotation is like turning a shape around a point. Imagine spinning a toy top or a spinning top - the shape changes its orientation, but it doesn't change its size or shape. In geometry, we can rotate shapes clockwise or counterclockwise around a point, using a specific angle.
Symmetry is when a shape has a mirror image that looks exactly the same as the original shape. Imagine folding a piece of paper in half and drawing a shape on one side, when you unfold the paper, the shape on the other side will be the exact same size and shape, but it will be a mirror image. In geometry, we can have different types of symmetries, like reflection symmetry or rotational symmetry.
These transformations can help us explore and understand the properties of shapes and figures in geometry. We can use them to create new shapes, identify patterns, and solve problems.