Transformation: Translation

Translation is simply moving or sliding a shape to another position without changing the shape in any way. Every vertex (corner) of the shape must move in the same direction and by the same amount.

The best way to translate a shape is to plot the corresponding vertices as points 
on the grid, ensuring that they all move the same direction and distance, 
then join the points to form the shape.

To translate shape A, 3 squares to the right, take each vertex (corner) in turn and mark a point 3 squares to the right - then join up the points to form the shape. Shape A has been translated 3 squares to the right to form shape B.

To translate shape B, 4 squares down, take each vertex (corner) in turn and mark a point 4 squares down - then join up the points to form the shape. Shape B has been translated 4 squares down to form shape C.

By making both of these translations, we have translated shape A, 3 squares to the right
and 4 squares down to form shape C.

The best way to learn this is by practise. Download and print some quartered squared paper  from the 11plusforparents Printable Resources page, draw on some shapes and have your child translate them in various ways.