1

I'm currently having trouble understanding this theorem, discussing reflections in a 2D plane:

Theorem: If we perform a reflection $S_1$ about a line $l_1$ followed by a reflection $S_2$ about the line $l_2$, the resulting transformation is a rotation about the point of intersection Q of the two lines. The rotation is from the line $l_1$ to the line $l_2$, and by an angle $2 \theta$, where $\theta$ is the angle between the two lines.

Here's what I thought it meant, note that the angles of reflection are approximated, mostly due to never using GeoGebra before.

Anyways, it's looks somewhat clear that adding $\gamma+ \beta $ doesn't give either $\alpha$ nor $\delta$. Is there something I'm missing? If I made $\gamma= \beta$, would it then be the case that either $\gamma + \beta = \alpha$ or $\gamma+\beta = \delta$?

1 Answers1

3

The figure represents the situation of the theorem.

enter image description here

The point $E$ ir reflected at $E'$ than at $E''$. The transformation $E \to E''$ is a rotation around the point $F$ by an angle $ \angle EFE''$ tha is double the angle $\angle GFH$ between the two lines because the triangles $EFE'$ and $E'FE''$ are isosceles.

Emilio Novati
  • 64,377