Mystery Transformations

In each mystery you are given two triangles that are related by a function belonging to one of five function families: rotate, reflect, translate, glide reflect, or dilate. Your task is use one of the tools to construct an image of triABC and then adjust your function (by adjusting the center, mirror, vector, angle, of scale factor) to demonstrate that the two triangles are congruent or similar.

Mystery 1: Each page tells you what function family to use. Your task is to apply that function to triABC and then adjust your function so that triA'B'C' lies directly on top of triDEF.

Mystery 2: On each page you have to decide which function family to use before you apply your function to triABC and adjust it to superpose triA'B'C' on triDEF.

Mystery 3: The function tools give you only an independent and dependent variable. On each page you have to choose the function family, restrict x to triABC as its domain, and adjust your function so that the range is triDEF.

1 Mystery 1: Demonstrate Congruence or Similarity

On each page, use a different transformations to superpose an image of triABC on triDEF.

You can use the designated transformation tool and adjust the function rule to superpose the two triangles. You may find the construction tools useful in this process.

Press the New Case button for a new triABC and a new function rule (still using the same function family).

How can the construction tools make it easier to solve new cases?

2 Mystery 2: Choose the Function

On each page, you must first figure out what transformation connects the two triangles.

Then perform the necessary construction to superpose an image of triABC on triDEF.

Record the features you used, on each page, to identify the correct function to use.

3 Mystery 3: Match the Domain and Range

4 Objectives

As you perform the activities in this lesson, you will:

1. Apply transformations to triangles.
2. Use transformations to superpose one triangle on another, experimenting with the function rule to make them fit exactly.
3. Determine which transformations are isometries; that is, which preserve distances.
4. Describe the meaning of “superpose” and “superposition” in your own words.
5. Given two triangles, identify which transformation allows you to superpose one on the other.
6. Describe transforming one point to another is related to transforming one triangle to another.

The Fine Print

Requirements:

These activities require web access using a browser that supports HTML5 and JavaScript. (That means almost any current browser.) No purchase is required, and there’s no advertising anywhere.

Release Information

Update History: