M3.9.3 For the adult

Shapes on a grid

If I slide a shape across a page, or flip it over, where do its corners go?

What this chapter teaches

A shape on a grid is its corners. The midpoint of two points is halfway in each number. A translation adds the same two numbers to every corner. A reflection in the x axis flips the sign of each up number, and in the y axis it flips the sign of each across number.

Three questions to ask

There is no one right wording. Listen for the idea.

  1. How do you find the midpoint of (2, 6) and (8, 2)?
  2. What happens to the coordinates of a point when you move it 3 left and 2 up?
  3. Why does the point (3, 2) go to (−3, 2) in the y axis, and not to (−3, −2)?

After the chapter, the learner can

  • Find the midpoint of a line between two points
  • Move a shape on a grid by a translation
  • Reflect a shape in the x axis or the y axis

What they copy into their notebook

Midpoint: add the two numbers and halve, for across and for up. Translation: add the same numbers to every corner. Reflection in the x axis: up changes sign. In the y axis: across changes sign.

Back to the chapter