Reflecting a shape about the line y = x swaps the x- and y-coordinates of each point in the shape. This transformation essentially mirrors the shape across a 45-degree line, creating a symmetrical reflection.
When a shape reflects about the line y = x, each point in the shape undergoes a transformation where its coordinates swap places. If a point in the original shape has coordinates (a, b), the reflected point will have coordinates (b, a).
This is because reflecting about the line y = x essentially mirrors the shape across a 45-degree line where the x-coordinates become the y-coordinates and vice versa. The line y = x is like a diagonal mirror through which the shape is flipped.
In summary, reflecting a shape about the line y = x results in a transformation where the x- and y-coordinates of each point are swapped.