The Lesson

A translation moves a shape. A translation is a slide of a shape: without rotating, reflecting or resizing it. A translation is a type of transformation.

A Real Example of a Translation

It is easier to understand translation with an example. The diagram below shows a translation of a shape. The shape before the translation (called the object) is in light blue. The shape after the translation (called the image) is in dark blue:In a translation,
  • a shape can move up
  • a shape can move down
  • a shape can move left
  • a shape can move right
In our example, the shape has moved 2 squares down and 2 squares right Each point on the shape moves the same direction and the same distance. Choose any point on the object. It has been moved 2 squares down and 2 squares right in the image.

What a Translation Isn't

A translation is a pure slide of a shape. A translated shape is not rotated or resized.