Advanced Glide Reflection Calculator

Analyze point images under glide reflections instantly. Choose axes, custom lines, distances, precision, and directions. See every step before exporting clean tables and reports.

Calculator Inputs
Direction note: Horizontal mode glides along the x-axis direction. Vertical mode glides along the y-axis direction. General mode uses the line direction vector (-B, A).
Formula Used

A glide reflection combines a reflection across a line with a translation along that same line.

1) Horizontal line y = k

Reflection: (x, y) → (x, 2k - y) Glide: (x, y) → (x + g, y) or (x - g, y) Final: (x', y') = (x ± g, 2k - y)

2) Vertical line x = h

Reflection: (x, y) → (2h - x, y) Glide: (x, y) → (x, y + g) or (x, y - g) Final: (x', y') = (2h - x, y ± g)

3) General line Ax + By + C = 0

d = (Ax + By + C) / (A² + B²) Reflected point: xr = x - 2Ad, yr = y - 2Bd Unit direction along the line: u = (-B, A) / √(A² + B²) Glide vector: T = ±g · u Final point: (x', y') = (xr, yr) + T

4) Affine form

The calculator also writes the glide reflection as one matrix-and-shift rule:

[x'] [m11 m12][x] + [qx] [y'] = [m21 m22][y] [qy]
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Select the reflection line type: horizontal, vertical, or general.
  2. Enter your point label and the point coordinates.
  3. Type the glide distance. Use negative motion by choosing reverse direction.
  4. Enter the needed line value: k, h, or coefficients A, B, and C.
  5. Choose the number of decimal places for displayed results.
  6. Click Calculate Glide Reflection to show the result above the form.
  7. Review the reflected point, glide vector, final image, and affine rule.
  8. Use the CSV or PDF buttons to export the result summary.
Example Data Table
Case Input Point Axis or Line Glide Distance Reflected Point Final Image
Horizontal P(4, 3) y = 1 5 (4, -1) (9, -1)
Vertical A(-2, 6) x = 3 4 (8, 6) (8, 10)
General B(2, 5) x - y = 0 4 (5, 2) (7.8284, 4.8284)

In the third example, the positive glide direction follows vector (-B, A) = (1, 1).

FAQs

1) What is a glide reflection?

A glide reflection is a reflection across a line followed by a translation along the same line. It is one of the standard plane isometries in geometry.

2) Does the order matter in a glide reflection?

For a translation parallel to the reflection line, reflecting then gliding gives the same result as gliding then reflecting. This is why the calculator can present one combined affine rule.

3) Why does the general mode use vector (-B, A)?

For the line Ax + By + C = 0, vector (A, B) is normal to the line. Rotating that normal gives a direction along the line, which can be written as (-B, A).

4) Can I use decimal coordinates and coefficients?

Yes. The calculator accepts decimals for points, glide distance, and line values. You can also control the displayed precision from zero to ten decimal places.

5) What happens if the point lies on the reflection line?

If the point already lies on the line, the reflection keeps it fixed. The final image then comes only from the glide translation along that line.

6) What does reverse direction mean?

Reverse direction changes the sign of the glide vector. In horizontal mode it moves left, in vertical mode it moves downward, and in general mode it follows vector (B, -A).

7) Why is the exported table useful?

The exported CSV and PDF files help with homework checks, classroom demonstrations, worksheet creation, and proof verification. They also make it easier to store transformation results.

8) Is the distance to the axis preserved?

Yes. Reflection preserves perpendicular distance to the line, and the glide translation is parallel to that line. Together they keep lengths and angles unchanged.

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Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.