How does a reflection transformation create a new image?

A reflection transformation creates a new image by flipping the shape over a specified line, known as the line of reflection. This process involves taking each point of the original shape and determining its corresponding point on the opposite side of the line of reflection, equidistant from that line. The result is a mirrored image of the original shape, where all the dimensions and angles remain unchanged, but the orientation is reversed.

This transformation is fundamental in understanding symmetries and geometric properties. It allows one to visualize how a shape would appear if viewed in a mirror placed along the line of reflection. Other transformations such as enlargement, rotation, and translation alter the size, orientation, or position without the mirroring effect central to a reflection, thereby defining the uniqueness of this transformation.