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K-12 Categories

NRICH: Translating Lines

Investigate what happens to the equation of different lines when you translate them. Try to predict what will happen. Explain your findings.

Move the red dots to set the position of the red line. Then move the blue dot to translate the blue line up and down.

Investigate what happens to the equations of different lines when you translate them up or down.
Try to predict what will happen. Explain your findings.

Now investigate what happens to the equations of different lines when you translate them left or right.
Try to predict what will happen. Explain your findings.

Below are the equations of ten lines, and some translations. Each translation links a pair of parallel lines – can you match them up?

y=2x−5 y=−2x+6 Right 4
y=13x+24 y=2x+12 Right 5, Up 5
y=−13x−11 y=13x+21 Left 1, Up 2
y=−2x−9 y=2x−9 Left 6, Down 5
y=2x+4 y=−13x−12 Left 3

Can you find other combinations of vertical and horizontal translations that link each pair of parallel lines?

Age 11 to 14


Math Topics
Algebra & Pre-Algebra, Functions & Graphs, Linear Equations
Middle School, High School, Educator
6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade

What are you looking for?

Organization

NRICH (University of Cambridge)

Website URL

Type of Resource

Challenge
Online Interactive Activity

Assigned Categories

Resource k12

NRICH: Translating Lines

Investigate what happens to the equation of different lines when you translate them. Try to predict what will happen. Explain your findings.

Move the red dots to set the position of the red line. Then move the blue dot to translate the blue line up and down.

Investigate what happens to the equations of different lines when you translate them up or down.
Try to predict what will happen. Explain your findings.

Now investigate what happens to the equations of different lines when you translate them left or right.
Try to predict what will happen. Explain your findings.

Below are the equations of ten lines, and some translations. Each translation links a pair of parallel lines – can you match them up?

y=2x−5 y=−2x+6 Right 4
y=13x+24 y=2x+12 Right 5, Up 5
y=−13x−11 y=13x+21 Left 1, Up 2
y=−2x−9 y=2x−9 Left 6, Down 5
y=2x+4 y=−13x−12 Left 3

Can you find other combinations of vertical and horizontal translations that link each pair of parallel lines?

Age 11 to 14


Math Topics
Algebra & Pre-Algebra, Functions & Graphs, Linear Equations
Middle School, High School, Educator
6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade

What are you looking for?

Organization

NRICH (University of Cambridge)

Website URL

Type of Resource

Challenge
Online Interactive Activity

Assigned Categories