Ohio Assessments for Educators (OAE) Mathematics Practice Exam 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Reflection in the context of transformations specifically involves flipping a shape or figure over a designated axis. When a reflection transformation is applied, every point of the original figure is mapped to a corresponding point on the opposite side of the axis, maintaining the same distance from that axis. This results in a mirror image of the original shape relative to the axis of reflection.

For instance, reflecting a point in the x-axis would change its y-coordinate to its negative while leaving the x-coordinate unchanged, effectively 'flipping' it over that axis. This transformation preserves the orientation of the shape but alters its position in the Cartesian plane.

Understanding reflection is crucial for grasping the broader concepts of geometric transformations, as it is one of the fundamental ways in which figures can be manipulated.