Copyright © University of Cambridge. All rights reserved.

'Translating Lines' printed from https://nrich.maths.org/

Show menu

Translating Lines card matching activity
 

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

$y=\frac13x+24$
 
$y=2x+12$ Right 5, Up 5

$y=-\frac13x-11$
 
$y=\frac13x+21$ Left 1, Up 2

$y=-2x-9$
 
$y=2x-9$ Left 6, Down 5

$y=2x+4$
 
$y=-\frac13x-12$ Left 3

 


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