Writing a composite transformation as a matrix multiplication I have two

maliaseth0

maliaseth0

Answered question

2022-02-01

Writing a composite transformation as a matrix multiplication
I have two matrices, P and Q as follows:
P=(12323212)
Q=(12323212)

Answer & Explanation

fumanchuecf

fumanchuecf

Beginner2022-02-02Added 21 answers

Step 1
Matrices work like functions. If you have functions f:AB and g:BC, and a element xA, we do first f(x), then g(f(x))=(g×f)(x). Notice that the order is different, we applied f, then g, but the result ended up being g×f. It is the same for matrices.
Extra info. for you: The matrix of rotation by a angle θ is given by
(cosθsinθsinθcosθ)
This way, P is rotation by 60 deg and Q is rotation by 120 deg.
lilwhitelieyc

lilwhitelieyc

Beginner2022-02-03Added 10 answers

Step 1
Here's the deal: operating on a point p by a transformation T is written T(p). That is, the point operated on goes to the right of the function being applied. If you wanted to then take the result,
q=T(p)
nd apply a transformation S, you'd write S(q). Substituting, you'd find that this was
S(T(p))
Many important transformations can be written in the form of multiplication by a matrix, and one might conjecture that the definition of matrix multiplication was made so that
T(p)=Mp
where M is a matrix, would work out nicely. Given that, if T(p)=Mp and S(q)=Kq, you get that
S(T(p))=K(Mp)=(KM)p
So yes, either in applying transformations OR in multiplying matrices for transformations (at least when points are represented by column vectors), you write the matrix for the first operation to the left of the point; the matrix for th next operation to the left of that, and so on.
Foley and van Dam, in their Computer Graphics text (first edition), used ROW vectors for point-coordinates; in that situation, the matrices go on the right, and you can read operations/matrices from right to left, which seems nice. Unfortunately, if you do that, then operations on covectors (like the normal vector to a surface) end up reading left-to-right, so you don't really win. You also, in using row vectors, go against the conventions widely used in math courses, which just messes up your students. That's why in later editions (I confess I'm a co-author) we went with column vectors.

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