Rotation of a point about a point

The matrix for a rotation through an angle anticlockwise about the origin is

cos sin

sin cos
Example 1 Find the coordinates of the image point when (3, 5) is rotated
anticlockwise through /6 about O.
Solution
The image point (x, y) is given by 3 3 5

x '
i.e. 2
x' cos sin 3 y' 3 5 3
6 6
5
y ' sin cos 2
6 6
3 3 5 35 3
3 1 The image point is ,
3
2 2
2 2
1 3 5

2 2
 y
5

4
The point (3, 5) rotates
Centre of 3 a/c through 30 i.e. /6 to
rotation is O become the new point
2
(x, y) i.e.
1
x 3 3 5 35 3

2 , 2

-1 30
-2

-3
(x, y)
3 3 5 35 3

-4 2 , 2

-5 (x, y) Approx (5.1, 2.8)
(3, 5)
 Rotation of a function about a point
Example 2 Find the coordinates of the image point when the parabola
y = 2x x2 is rotated through about O.

Solution Let (x, y) be any point on y = 2x x2 and (x, y) its image under a
rotation of i.e. 180.
x' cos sin x

y' sin cos y
x' 1 0 x


y ' 0 1 y

The inverse of this matrix is the same (note a 180 rotation is the
inverse of a 180 rotation!

x 1 0 x'

y 0 1 y'
Expand to make x, y the subjects

x = x
y = y

Substituting into the original y = 2x x2 we obtain

y = 2( x) ( x)2

Dropping superscripts and cleaning up,

y = 2x + x2

Conclusion.

When the parabola y = 2x x2 is rotated through 180 about

0, its image is the parabola y = 2x + x2. See diagram
 y Image y = 2x + x2
5

2 Original y = 2x x2
1
x

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5