What is a translation?

In maths, a translation is a transformation that slides every point of a shape the same distance in the same direction. The shape keeps its size, shape and the way it faces, it just moves to a new place, like sliding a book across a table.

Examples

• Sliding a shape 3 squares right and 2 squares up is a translation.
• Moving a chess piece straight across the board is like a translation.
• A shape and its translation are identical, just in a different spot.

Quick facts

• A translation never turns or flips the shape.
• The shape and its image are congruent.