Reflect Again

1823 /www/nrich/html/content/03/07/15plus4/ 1 2011-02-01T00:00:01 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <mdoxml version="1.0"> Use the diagram to prove the double angle formula, where $t=\tan \theta$: $$\tan2\theta = {2t\over {1-t^2}},\quad \sin2\theta = {2t\over {1+t^2}},\quad \cos2\theta = {{1-t^2}\over {1+t^2}}$$ <mdo:image alt="Tan" src="tan.gif"></mdo:image> The point $P'=(p',q')$ is the image of the point $P=(p,q)$ after reflection in the line $y=mx$. To find $(p',q')$ use the fact that the midpoint of $PP'$ is on the line $y=mx$ and the line segment $PP'$ is perpendicular to the line $y=mx$ and show that $$p'=p\cos2\theta + q\sin2\theta,\ q'=p\sin2\theta - q\cos2\theta\quad (1)$$ where $m=\tan\theta$. Hence establish another proof that the matrix $$T_2= \left( \begin{array}{cc} \cos 2\theta &\sin2\theta \\ \sin2\theta &-\cos2\theta \end{array} \right) $$ gives a reflection in the line $y=x\tan\theta$. The point $P''=(p'',q'')$ is the image of the point $P'$ after reflection in the line $y=x\tan\phi$. Apply the transformation $$T_2' = \left( \eqalign{\cos 2\phi &\sin2\phi \\ \sin2\phi & -\cos2\phi}\right)$$ to the point $P'=(p',q')$ to find the coordinates of the point $P''$ in terms of $p, q, \theta$ and $\phi$. Hence show that the combination of two reflections in distinct intersecting lines is a rotation about the point of intersection by twice the angle between the two mirror lines. What is the effect of the two reflections if the lines coincide (i.e. $\theta=\phi$)? </mdoxml> <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <mdoxml version="1.0"> Andrei Lazanu proved the double angle formulae illustrated in the diagram: The diagram starts from a right angled triangle, of sides $2t$ and 2 and where consequently $\tan\theta = t$. In this triangle, a line making an angle $\theta$ with the hypotenuse is drawn. This way, an isosceles triangle is formed, and $2\theta$ is the angle exterior to this isosceles triangle. Let the sides DA and DB of this isosceles triangle be $x$\ units. Then the length of DC must be $2-x$ units. Using Pythagoras' Theorem for triangle ADC we find $x$. $$x^2=(2t)^2+(2-x)^2.$$ Hence $x=1+t^2$ and so the length of side DC is $2-(1+t^2)=1-t^2$. The formulae for the sine, cosine and tangent of $2\theta$ in terms of $t$, where $t=\tan \theta$, follow directly from the ratios of the sides of the right angled triangle ADC and we get $$\tan2\theta = {2t\over {1-t^2}},\quad \sin2\theta = {2t\over {1+t^2}},\quad \cos2\theta = {{1-t^2}\over {1+t^2}}$$ <div><a href="http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=1822&part=solution" class="editorial">Rots and Refs</a> provides a proof of the translation formula .</div> <div>Finally, to find the combined transformation you have to multiply the transformation matricies to get (using the double angle formulae to simplify):</div> $$T= \left( \begin{array}{cc} cos 2(\phi-\theta) & -sin2(\phi-\theta)\\ sin2(\phi-\theta & \cos2(\phi-\theta) \end{array} \right) $$ <div>Which is a rotation. If the angles are equal the matrix would be:</div> <div>$$T= \left( \begin{array}{cc} 1 & 0\\ 0 & 1 \end{array} \right) $$</div> So the two reflections combined would leave all points unchanged. </mdoxml> <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <mdoxml version="1.0"> The conditions suggested in the question give you two equations which you can solve to find $p'$ and $q'$. Use the same formulation to give $(p'',q'')$. The problem <a href="http://nrich.maths.org/public/viewer.php?obj_id=1821&part=index"> 'The Matrix'</a> explains how 2 by 2 matrices are used to give transformations of the plane and how you multiply the position vector of a point by the matrix to find the image of that point under the transformation. </mdoxml> <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <mdoxml version="1.0"></mdoxml> 2 5 0 0 0 0 1 Reflect Again Follow hints to investigate the matrix which gives a reflection of the plane in the line y=tanx. Show that the combination of two reflections in intersecting lines is a rotation. Coordinates and Coordinate Geometry Cartesian equations of lines Trigonometry Trigonometric identities Transformations and their Properties Reflections Transformations and their Properties Compound transformations Transformations and their Properties Matrix transformations