What is a reflection in a geometric context?

In geometry, a reflection is defined as a transformation that flips a figure over a specific line, known as the line of reflection. This line acts as a mirror, where each point on the original figure, when reflected, appears directly opposite on the other side of this line at an equal distance.

When performing a reflection, the orientation of the figure is reversed, but its size and shape remain unchanged. For example, if you reflect a triangle over a vertical line, each vertex of the triangle will be transferred to a position that is equidistant from the line of reflection but on the opposite side. This ensures that the figure is mirrored properly, maintaining all proportional distances and angles.

This concept is central in understanding symmetry and transformations in geometry, which can be applied in various contexts, such as in art, design, and real-world applications, like reflections in mirrors or water.

The other choices describe different types of transformations that do not fit the definition of a reflection. Scaling enlarges or reduces a figure, translation shifts it from one location to another without changing its orientation, and rotation turns a figure around a point but does not involve flipping it across a line. Each of these transformations preserves certain characteristics of the figure while changing its position or size in