Reflections Across the Axes (Grades 6–8)
A reflection flips a point across an axis like a mirror. Reflecting across the x-axis keeps x the same and flips the sign of y: (3, 2) → (3, −2). Reflecting across the y-axis keeps y the same and flips the sign of x: (3, 2) → (−3, 2). The point lands the same distance from the axis, on the opposite side.
Understanding reflections on the coordinate plane
A reflection flips a point across an axis like a mirror. Reflecting across the x-axis keeps x the same and flips the sign of y: (3, 2) → (3, −2). Reflecting across the y-axis keeps y the same and flips the sign of x: (3, 2) → (−3, 2). The point lands the same distance from the axis, on the opposite side.
Key Idea
A reflection flips a point across an axis like a mirror. Reflecting across the x-axis keeps x the same and flips the sign of y: (3, 2) → (3, −2). Reflecting across the y-axis keeps y the same and flips the sign of x: (3, 2) → (−3, 2). The point lands the same distance from the axis, on the opposite side.
Seeing it in action
Worked example
Reflect (3, 2) across the x-axis.
Keep x = 3, flip y: 2 → −2. → (3, −2).
Across the x-axis, x stays and y changes sign.
Try a few
Reflect (4, 5) across the y-axis
Reflect (−2, 3) across the x-axis
Reflect (1, −6) across the x-axis
Coordinate Quest
A calm treasure-map game for plotting, reading, and translating points on a coordinate plane.
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Practice reflections on the coordinate plane in Numeris with instant feedback.
Master it in the workbook.
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