Geometry: Transformation of the Plane

By Xah Lee. Date: . Last updated: .

What follows are images of Transformation of the Plane. The original image is a square grid. The transformed image is shown, under a function ƒ. For most images, the coloring is done by a function that measures the change of distance from the point to the image of the point under ƒ.

These graphics are generated with the Mathematica package “Transform2DPlot.m”. You can get it at Mathematica Package: Geometric Transformation on the Plane .


pastelSpin Kcj4t
pastelSpin Varying concentric rotation
Clear[n];
n = N[Pi/3];
Transform2DPlot[({{Cos[#1*n], -Sin[#1*n]}, {Sin[#1*n], Cos[#1*n]}} & )[
       Norm[{x, y}]] . {x, y}, {x, -2*Pi, 2*Pi}, {y, -2*Pi, 2*Pi},
   PlotRange -> {{-1, 1}, {-1, 1}}*3.1, ColorFunction ->
     (Hue[RandomReal[], Sqrt[#1], 0.8] & ), PlotPoints -> 47,
 Axes -> False]

blackhole cmKgj
blackhole Varying concentric rotation in a unit circle
Clear[f, n]
n = N[2];
f[x_, y_] := If[N[Sqrt[x^2 + y^2]] < 1,
     ({{Cos[(1 - #1)*n], -Sin[(1 - #1)*n]}, {Sin[(1 - #1)*n],
                  Cos[(1 - #1)*n]}} & )[x^2 + y^2] . {x, y}*(x^2 +
     y^2), {x, y}]
Transform2DPlot[f[x, y], {x, -1.2, 1.2}, {y, -1.2, 1.2},
 Axes -> False,
   Background -> GrayLevel[0],
 ColorFunction -> RandomRGBColorFunctionGenerator[
       ], PlotPoints -> {24, 24}]

fishnet 2b44Y
fishnet
Transform2DPlot[(Sin[x]*Sin[y])*Normalize[{x, y}] + {x, y}, {x, -Pi, Pi},
  {y, -Pi, Pi}, PlotPoints -> 24*{1, 1}, ColorFunction ->
   (RGBColor[0.4, #1, 0.3] & ), Background -> GrayLevel[0], Axes -> False]

sinewave wzHpT
sinewave
Transform2DPlot[Sin[Sqrt[x^2 + y^2]]*Normalize[{x, y}] + {x, y},
   {x, -3*Pi, 3*Pi}, {y, -3*Pi, 3*Pi}, PlotPoints -> {1, 1}*50,
   ColorFunction -> (RGBColor[0.4, #1, 0.8] & ),
 Background -> GrayLevel[0],
   Axes -> False]

burned hole gbSDS
burned hole
Transform2DPlot[Normalize[{#1, #2}]*(1/(Norm[{#1, #2}] + 2) + 4) +
       {#1, #2} & , {-1, 1}*5, {-1, 1}*5, PlotPoints -> {1, 1}*30,
 Axes -> True,
   Background -> GrayLevel[0]]

magGlass jnMMs
magGlass
Transform2DPlot[{#1, #2}/(Norm[{#1, #2}] + 1/2) & , {-1, 1}*3, {-1, 1}*3,
   PlotPoints -> {1, 1}*134, Background -> GrayLevel[0]]

complexInv S9PJP
complexInv
Transform2DPlot[1/(x + y*I), {x, -2, 2},
  {y, -2, 2}, PlotPoints -> {1, 1}*50,
  ColorFunction -> (RGBColor[0.7,
     -(#1 - 1)^4 + 1, 0.1] & ),
  PlotRange -> {{-1, 1}, {-1, 1}}*3.6,
  Background -> GrayLevel[0], Axes -> False]

complexCos
Cos[x + I y],{x, 0, Pi},{y, -Pi, Pi}

logScale
{Log[x+.001], Log[y+.001]},{x, 0, 3},{y, 0, 3}

Non-one-to-one Mapping

explosion
Sin[x y] {x, y},{x, -2 Pi, 2 Pi},{y, -2 Pi, 2 Pi}
amethystGem
Sin[ Norm[{x,y}] ] {x,y},{x, -2 Pi, 2 Pi},{y, -2 Pi, 2 Pi}
fan
( Sin@Norm[{x,y}]) Normalize[{x,y}],{x, -Pi, Pi},{y, -Pi, Pi}
cloverLeaf
( Cos@Norm[{x,y}]) Normalize[{x,y}],{x, -Pi, Pi},{y, -Pi, Pi}
rollerCoster
{y, Cos[y x]}, {x, 0, Pi}, {y, 0, 2 Pi}

Note About Notation

What is Transformation

A transformation in the plane is a function that maps points in the plane to other points in the plane. Put it another way, a function f that takes a point {a,b} and out put a point {c,d}. A transformation is also called a mapping or function. It is usually called transformation in geometry context.

When doing a transformation in the plane, we start with a image in the plane. For example, lines, circles, curves, or any figure. The starting image is usually called pre-image, and the figure after transformation is called image. For example, suppose we start with a circle of radius 1 centered on the origin. Suppose our function is f[{x,y}]:={x+1,y+1}. Then, after the transformation, the image would be a circle of radius 1 centered on {1,1}.

In the above illustrations, the pre-image is a grid.

One-to-one Mapping

There are many classification of transformations. First of all, we can classify a transformation by asking whether if 2 or more points are mapped into the same point. If not, then it is called a one-to-one mapping.

A easy way to think of one-to-one, is that there are no over-laps or folding. A non-one-to-one transformation will have overlapping points. Some of the images above are not one-to-one transformations. Most transformations studied in geometry are the one-to-one type. A reflection (mirroring), a rotation, a scaling (dilation/contraction), or a translation (shifting, pan) are all one-to-one transformations.

Continuity

We can also classify transformations into continuous and discontinuous. It asks whether neighbors points remain neighbors. Suppose you cut out two circles in a paper, swap their locations and tape them back. Obviously, the points on the boundary of the circles now has new neighbors, after the transformation. Such is a discontinuous transformation because it cuts continuity.

Rotation, translation, reflection, are all continuous transformations. Most transformations studied in geometry are continuous transformations. All the image examples above are continuous transformations.

Distance-preserving

Transformations are classified by many other ways. We may ask whether distance is preserved. Reflection, rotation, translation are this type. Scaling (dilation/contraction) or shearing do no preserve distance. Distance-preserving transformations are called isometry. It is also called rigid motions.

Sense-preserving

Another distinction is whether the orientation (also called “sense”) is preserved. Suppose you have the letter P in your plane. After a reflection, P will be reversed. Thus reflection is a sense-reversing transformation. On the other hand, you can never reverse P by a rotation, scaling, or a translation.

Linear Transformation

A important class of transformation, is transformations such that preserve a line thru the origin. That is, if you have a line passing the origin. Then, after transformation, is image of this line still a line passing the origin? If so, it is called linear transformations .

Rotation around the origin, dilation around the origin, reflection around the origin, and shearing, are all linear transformations.

Affine Transformation

A more broader class of transformation is called affine transformation (aka “affinity”). Affine transformation includes all linear transformation plus any combination of them with translation.

Viewed in another way, it asks if parallel lines are preserved. If two parallel lines are still parallel lines after the mapping, then this mapping is a affine transformation.

Conformal Transformations

Another important class of transformation is called conformal maps or conformal transformations. It asks whether angles are preserved. Suppose you have two lines in your plane that forms a angle α. Now after your transform, do they still form angle α?

Such transforms are studied in a branch of math called complex analysis. A particular interesting conformal map is called inversion. Imagine the plane as huge piece of paper. Now punch a hole in the center of the paper, poke in both of your thumbs inside, with the rest of your fingers grabbing the edges of the paper. Now flip the paper inside out, so that the edge in the hole are on the outside, while the paper's edge becomes the boundary of the hole. (this is not possible to do in real life, but just imagine) Now seal up the hole, and done, that's inversion. Points in the center are mapped to far away (infinity) and points far away are mapped to the center. You essentially turned a plane inside out. Amazingly, this process preserve angles. (For detail, see: Inversion and Nested Inversion of Circles.)

Projective Transformation

Suppose you take a crayon and draw figures on a glass pane. Then draw axis on the pane. Then take this glass pane outside so the sun cast shadows on the ground. Now, draw x and y axis on the ground. Now, each point in your figure has a corresponding point on the ground. This transformation is called projective transformations (aka “projectivity”.).

The property projectivity preserves is incidence and cross ratio. Incidence means whene 2 curves cross. In a projectivity, if 2 curves cross at n points, then after the transformation they will still meet at n points. Cross ratio means the ratio of 2 segments defined by 4 points on a line. In projectivity, this ratio is preserved.

For more about projective transform, see:

Topological Transformations

Another class of transformations, is called Homeomorphism. This class are basically transformations that are continuous, and is studied in a branch of math called topology. Basically, you can now think of the plane as a piece of rubber of infinite extent. You can pinch, stretch, and distort it any way you like, as long as you don't cut or tear. You can draw a smiley on the rubber and make it grin from east to west. In topological transforms, shapes are not distinguished. Circles and triangles are considered the same, but nevertheless certain properties of figures remain. For example, a loop will never become a line. Here's one theorem from topology, Jordan curve theorem: You can never connect a point inside a loop to a point outside without crossing the loop.

Geometry: Transformation of the Plane, Video Tutorial

Xah Talk Show 2021-03-21 Wolfram Language Mathematica Demo/Tutorial. Transformation of the Plane