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What is the matrix representation of a 90-degree counterclockwise rotation in 2D?

The matrix representation is [0−110]\begin{bmatrix} 0 & -1 \\ 1 & 0 \end{bmatrix}. This is derived by observing where the standard basis vectors land: i^\hat{i} rotates to [0,1]T[0, 1]^T and j^\hat{j} rotates to [−1,0]T[-1, 0]^T. These landing coordinates form the columns of the matrix.

Conditions

  • Rotation is 90 degrees counterclockwise.
  • Working in a 2D plane with standard basis vectors.

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Determine the new position of i^=[1,0]T\hat{i} = [1, 0]^T after a 90-degree counterclockwise rotation, which is [0,1]T[0, 1]^T.
  2. Determine the new position of j^=[0,1]T\hat{j} = [0, 1]^T after the same rotation, which is [−1,0]T[-1, 0]^T.
  3. Place the image of i^\hat{i} as the first column and the image of j^\hat{j} as the second column of the matrix.

Example

The script states: 'A 90∘90^\circ counterclockwise rotation sends i^\hat{i} to [0,1]T[0, 1]^T and j^\hat{j} to [−1,0]T[-1, 0]^T, yielding the matrix [[0,−1],[1,0]][[0, -1], [1, 0]].'

Common misconceptions

  • Placing the rotated vectors as rows instead of columns.
  • Confusing clockwise and counterclockwise rotation directions.

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