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TheoremProved

Composition of Two Reflections Across Intersecting Lines

Statement

Let d1d_1 and d2d_2 be two lines intersecting at a point II such that the directed angle from d1d_1 to d2d_2 is α\alpha. Then the composition of the reflection across d1d_1 followed by the reflection across d2d_2 is the rotation about II by angle 2α2\alpha: Rd2∘Rd1=Q(I,2α)R_{d_2} \circ R_{d_1} = Q_{(I, 2\alpha)}.

Why is it true?

A single reflection flips orientation (left hand becomes right hand), so doing two reflections in a row restores the original orientation and must be a rigid motion without flipping. Since the intersection point II lies on both mirrors, neither reflection moves II, so the combined motion must be a rotation around II, and each mirror contributes twice the angle between the point and that mirror.

Proof sketch

First, since II lies on both d1d_1 and d2d_2, both reflections fix II. Take any point MM distinct from II, and let M1=Rd1(M)M_1 = R_{d_1}(M) and M′=Rd2(M1)M' = R_{d_2}(M_1).

Because d1d_1 is the perpendicular bisector of MM1MM_1 and d2d_2 is the perpendicular bisector of M1M′M_1M', we have IM=IM1=IM′IM = IM_1 = IM', so MM and M′=Rd2(M1)M' = R_{d_2}(M_1) lie on the same circle centered at II.

Let φ1\varphi_1 be the directed angle from ray IM→\overrightarrow{IM} to Id1→\overrightarrow{Id_1}, and φ2\varphi_2 be the directed angle from Id1→\overrightarrow{Id_1} to Id2→\overrightarrow{Id_2}. Reflection across d1d_1 sends IM→\overrightarrow{IM} to IM1→\overrightarrow{IM_1} by rotating through 2φ12\varphi_1, and reflection across d2d_2 sends IM1→\overrightarrow{IM_1} to IM′→\overrightarrow{IM'} by rotating through 2φ22\varphi_2. Adding the directed angles gives (IM→,IM′→)=2φ1+2φ2=2(φ1+φ2)=2α(\overrightarrow{IM}, \overrightarrow{IM'}) = 2\varphi_1 + 2\varphi_2 = 2(\varphi_1 + \varphi_2) = 2\alpha, which is independent of MM. Hence every point is rotated around II by 2α2\alpha, proving the composition equals Q(I,2α)Q_{(I, 2\alpha)}.

Topics that use this theorem

Step-by-step proofs

No step-by-step proof yet for this theorem.

References

  1. H. S. M. Coxeter (1969). Introduction to Geometry
  2. Wikipedia contributors (2026). Geometric transformation — Wikipedia