Transformations and Symmetry
The word "transformation" refers to a movement or change in a geometric shape. If we slide a geometric shape to the right or left, this is called a "translation". In the example below, the original triangle is triangle ABC, and the second triangle A'B'C' is a translation of the original triangle. In moving the first triangle two inches to the right, we say that we translated triangle ABC two inches horizontally to create triangle A'B'C'.
In the second example of translation below, triangle DEF has been translated one inch vertically to create triangle D'E'F':
The second kind of transformation is called a "reflection". When you look in a mirror, you see a reflection of yourself, but left and right are reversed. As you see in the diagram below, when we reflect triangle ABC, the reflected triangle A'B'C' is "flipped" or reversed. Line "m" is the mirror.
A third kind of transformation is called a "rotation". If you want to rotate an object, you must first choose the Center of Rotation. This point is the point that you will rotate the object around, just as the center of a wheel is the center about which the wheel rotates. In the diagram below, triangle DEF has been rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise to its new position, triangle D'E'F'. P is the center of rotation.
In the diagram below, a triangle has been rotated 6 times about point P, at 60 degrees each time. Since 6 times 60 is 360 degrees, we see that this completes a full circle:
The fourth transformation is called "dilation". When the eye doctor "dilates your eyes" during an eye examination, the pupils of your eyes become enlarged so that the doctor can see the veins of your eyes more clearly. Dilation, mathematically, means to take a shape and make it larger or smaller but keep it the same proportion. In the geometric example below, the triangle on the left is "dilated" by a factor of 2 (it is "doubled") to create the dilated triangle on the right. Each side of the new triangle is twice as long as the corresponding side of the original triangle. Point "P" is the center of dilation. We would therefore say that the "scale factor is 1 to 2" comparing the original to the new figure. Another way to compare the sizes of the figures is to say that each side of the smaller triangle is one-half the size of the corresponding side of the larger figure.
What do you think is true of the angles of the new triangle compared to the angles of the original triangle? If you answered "they are the same", or "the new angles are the same measure, or number of degrees, as the original triangle" then you are correct! Since the angles are the same, the two triangles are the same shape.
You will learn more about transformations and symmetry at the following web page:
Test Question #1: What is special about the word ATOYOTA, as explained on the web site linked above?
To create an interesting geometric, you can combine the two or three of the transformations (translation, reflection, rotation) and use a variety of shapes and colors as in the example below. Which of the transformations were used?
If you answered "reflection and rotation", then you are correct!
Translation and dilation were used to construct the "frieze pattern" below. A "frieze pattern" is a design made from horizontal or vertical repetitions of the same shape.
Frieze patterns are often used in fabric designs for clothing, draperies, and wallpaper, and even in architecture, such as the example below, a Tile Frieze from the Palacio de Velazquez in Madrid, Spain
(photo from http://www.fandm.edu/Departments/Mathematics/a.crannell/hm/Math/seven.html)
You will find a mathematical discussion about these and other transformations at the following web page, on the Math Forum website. The Math Forum is a fascinating web site, with thousands of pages about math.
Test Question #2: What type of transformation is discussed on the Math Forum web page that was NOT discussed on this MathArt page, what is the definition of that type of transformation, and how does it differ from the 3 types of transformation discussed in MathArt?
We say that an object has symmetry, or is symmetrical, if the two sides are "of similar measure". Many animals and insects are symmetrical; a beautiful example of this is the Butterfly below.
We say that a butterfly, and the human body, are symmetrical because the left and right sides appear to be very much alike. This type of symmetry is called "reflection symmetry" because the left side, if it were reflected across the middle line, would match the right side. You can see this general symmetry in the following famous drawing by Leonardo Da Vinci. In this drawing, Da Vinci illustrates the form with two positions of both the arms and legs, depicting the symmetry and proportion of the human figure.
Leonardo Da Vinci is often called the "Renaissance Man", because he combined imagination, curiosity and creativity. He was a scientist, an inventor, and an artist. His most famous painting is The Mona Lisa. The web page below will give you an introduction to the artistic side of Leonardo:
I would like you to read the following web page from the Leonardo web site, but you do not have to do any of the activities (although you will probably find them intriguing):
You will find some interesting information about symmetry at the following web page, on the Da Vinci web site:
Now here's a challenge for you. Using the method explained in the web page above, "de-code" the following question and answer:
(photo from http://members.aol.com/alohaquilt/index.html)
Many pieces of art work are symmetrical, and so are many graphic designs. Some of the most beautiful examples of symmetry can be found in Hawaiian quilts, such as the ones above. You will find out how to create your own geometric quilt pattern at the web page below:
You will find out more information about symmetry by reading the one page linked below, from "The Geometry Pages". You do not have to go to any other pages besides this one page; please come back to the MathArt pages when you have carefully read the page below. Click on this link now:
Test Question #4: Name the two types of symmetry, and give an example (from the above web page) for each type.
From earliest recorded history, we find examples of artists and architects designing their paintings and buildings with a strong emphasis on symmetry. For example, most buildings built before the 20th century had very strong symmetry: the left side of the structure is exactly the same as the right side, as you can see in the images below:
(Photos from http://www.GreatBuildings.com/)
From left to right:
Torii of Itsukushima on Miyajima Island in
Japan 10th century AD, Norwegian storehouse 13th century AD, Piazza
of St. Peter's in Rome 17th century, S. Maria Novella Church in
Florence Italy 15th century AD, The Taj Mahal in Agra India 17th
century, United States Capitol in Washington D.C. 19th century.
The following two images are from http://homer.reed.edu/Parthenon.html and the text is from http://www.johnco.cc.ks.us/~jjackson/part.html
"The supreme achievement of the Greeks was their claim that everything--from the human body to the entire cosmos--was governed by an order accessible to human reason. That claim has been the basis for western civilization ever since. The Temple of Athena Parthenos, the Parthenon, now a ruin lying atop the Acropolis of Athens, is the testament in stone to that claim."
And this " order accessible to human reason" is mathematical symmetry! The Parthenon is one of the classical examples of ancient Greek civilization, built in 447 BC. The structure, with beautiful proportions and perfect symmetry, is also an example of the importance of symmetry and proportion, and therefore mathematics, in architecture.
The floor plan of the Parthenon below shows the very strong order and symmetry, and emphasis on geometric shapes that is found in most architecture:
You will find further information at the following web page, called "The Golden Section in Architecture".
This page is rich with information on both
mathematics and architecture and you should spend quite a lot of time
reading and looking through it. As you scroll down you will also find
"The Golden Section in Art", which you should also read. I would like
you to go to some of the links from this page, and read what you find
there. You will find many good ideas for your project!
So what is the "Golden Section"? You will find the answer to this question, and some good project ideas, at the following web page:
As you have seen, many architects design their buildings so that they are symmetrical, and this has been true throughout history. You will also find many examples of artistic use of symmetry in much of the ornamental designs on the walls of many buildings. One very good example is the Alhambra Palace, in Spain. You will find some interesting information about this beautiful building, and examples of the symmetry in the ornamental tiles of the Alhambra by clicking on the link below:
This mathematical concept is used extensively in building model airplanes, dollhouses, and in architectural design as well. Certainly an architect cannot possible draw a building at its full size - it would take an enormous sheet of paper! So an architect (or an engineer, or an airplane designer, etc.) draws the building "to scale". The phrase "scale drawing" refers to a drawing that is smaller (or occasionally larger) than the real thing. The floor plan of the house shown below has been drawn at to scale.
The original scale at which this floor plan was created was 1/4 inch represents 1 foot, which means that every 1/4" inch on the drawing represents 1 foot in the real house. (Note: to fit the drawing onto a web page, it has been reproduced, so is not measurable as you see it now.)
Now, some mathematics: if 1/4 inch represents 1 foot, then it would also be true that 1/4 inch represents 12 inches. We can simplify this equation by multiplying both sides by 4 as shown below:
Therefore, the ratio is 1 to 48, and the actual drawing was one forty-eighth the size of the real house.
Here's another example: The length of a stadium is 200 yards and its width is 120 yards. If 1 inch represents 10 yards, what would be the dimensions of the stadium drawn on a sheet of paper?
Answer: 20 inches by 12 inches.
To learn more about the mathematics of scale drawing, visit the following page:
In searching on in the internet for information about architects and architecture, I found the following website. It is fascinating! If you are interested in possibly becoming an architect, please visit this website.
Chapter 2 Project
The project for this chapter is to create an artistic symmetrical design, using geometric shapes and transformations. First do some research on the Internet, and look at geometric artwork (net search: geometry art OR geometric art). Read some information about the geometric artwork that you find, and explore any aspects that interest you. Then design and create a symmetrical geometric design yourself. If you would like to see some examples of graphics created by students like yourselves, please go to the Student Work section from the Table of Contents.
I certainly hope you have fun doing this project!