What is the fundamental aspect of reflections in geometric transformations?

Reflections in geometric transformations primarily focus on preserving the size and shape of the object being transformed. When an object is reflected across a specific line, known as the line of reflection, every point of the object moves to a new location but maintains its distance and angle relative to the line of reflection. This means that the reflected image is congruent to the original object, maintaining all properties such as angles and side lengths.

This preservation is a key feature of reflections as a transformation, making it distinct from operations that may alter size, shape, or perspective. Therefore, in any reflection, the integrity of the object’s dimensions remains intact, ensuring that the new figure is an exact mirror image of the original.