Final answer:
The reflection rule for a point (x, y) over the y-axis is (-x, y), and over the x-axis is (x, -y), altering the sign of the respective coordinate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reflection rule you're referring to concerns the change in coordinates when a point is reflected over an axis in a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system. When a point with coordinates (x, y) is reflected over the y-axis, its x-coordinate changes sign, resulting in (-x, y). Similarly, when a point is reflected over the x-axis, its y-coordinate changes sign, producing the coordinates (x, -y). This transformation alters the position of the point while preserving its distance from the respective axis.