Maths - Transforms Using Matrices

There are two types of algebra associated with transformations and these algebras must interwork correctly together.

natural transformation

The diagram on the left tries to illustrate this.

  • The blue arrows, going from left to right, show different rotations which take a point Pin and moves it to point Pout.
  • The red arrow, from top to bottom, takes two rotations and combines them to give a third.

Multiply Matrix by Vector

A matrix can convert a vector into another vector by multiplying it by a matrix as follows:

v_out0
v_out1
v_out2
=
m00 m01 m02
m10 m11 m12
m20 m21 m22
v_in0
v_in1
v_in2
We can think of this as transforming
v_in0
v_in1
v_in2
into
v_out0
v_out1
v_out2

If we apply this to every point in the 3D space we can think of the matrix as transforming the whole vector field.

This can represent any linear transform, including scaling and rotation (translation can be done by adding vectors).

Applying the Transform

The result of this multiplication can be calculated by treating the vector as a n x 1 matrix, so in this case we multiply a 3x3 matrix by a 3x1 matrix we get:

v_out0
v_out1
v_out2
=
m00*v_in0 + m01*v_in1 + m02*v_in2
m10*v_in0 + m11*v_in1 + m12*v_in2
m20*v_in0 + m21*v_in1 + m22*v_in2

So any vector v_in can be converted into another vector v_out.

We can show all vectors as a vector field as shown here.

Scaling

We can scale using the following matrix:

m00 0 0
0 m11 0
0 0 m22

If we want to scale equally in all dimensions then m00 =m11=m22

Translation

We can translate a vector by adding an offset vector, not a linear transform as shown above. Sometimes we want to combine translation with rotation so that we can do both in one operation, but we cant do 3D translation by multiplication with a 3x3 matrix . but we can with a 4x4 matrix as defined here.

Rotation

We can use a 3x3 matrix to represent rotation in 3 dimensions as defined here. Rotations in any arbitrary number of dimensions are discussed in group theory.

Sample 3D Rotations

In order to try to explain things I thought it might help to work out a simple case where rotations are only allowed in multiples of 90 degrees. This should make it easier to illustrate the orientation with a simple aeroplane figure, we can rotate this either about the x,y or z axis as shown here:

Properties of rotation matrix

Determinant of Rotation Matrix

det[R] = 1

The determinant (as defined on this page) is plus one (rotation combined with a reflection gives a determinant of minus one).

Eigenvector and Eigenvalues of Rotation Matrix

The eigenvector and eigenvalues (as defined on this page) can best be written in terms of the matrix when it is written in terms of the axis angle representation:

[R] =
t*x*x + c t*x*y - z*s t*x*z + y*s
t*x*y + z*s t*y*y + c t*y*z - x*s
t*x*z - y*s t*y*z + x*s t*z*z + c

where,

this gives:

eigenvalues = {1 , e±iθ} = {1 , cos(θ) ± i sin(θ)}

eigenvector = [x,y,z]


metadata block
see also:

 

Correspondence about this page

Book Shop - Further reading.

Where I can, I have put links to Amazon for books that are relevant to the subject, click on the appropriate country flag to get more details of the book or to buy it from them.

cover Mathematics for 3D game Programming - Includes introduction to Vectors, Matrices, Transforms and Trigonometry. (But no euler angles or quaternions). Also includes ray tracing and some linear & rotational physics also collision detection (but not collision response).

Terminology and Notation

Specific to this page here:

 

This site may have errors. Don't use for critical systems.

Copyright (c) 1998-2023 Martin John Baker - All rights reserved - privacy policy.