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What is the matrix representation of a 90-degree rotation around the y-axis in 3D?

The matrix is [001010−100]\begin{bmatrix} 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 \\ -1 & 0 & 0 \end{bmatrix}. This is derived by tracking the standard basis vectors: i^\hat{i} moves to (0,0,−1)(0, 0, -1), j^\hat{j} remains stationary at (0,1,0)(0, 1, 0), and k^\hat{k} swings to (1,0,0)(1, 0, 0). These resulting coordinate triplets become the respective columns of the rotation matrix.

Conditions

  • Rotation is 90 degrees around the y-axis.
  • Working in a right-handed 3D coordinate system.

Reasoning, step by step

  1. Determine the new position of i^\hat{i} after a 90-degree rotation around the y-axis, which is (0,0,−1)(0, 0, -1).
  2. Determine the new position of j^\hat{j}, which remains on the axis of rotation at (0,1,0)(0, 1, 0).
  3. Determine the new position of k^\hat{k}, which moves to the positive x-axis at (1,0,0)(1, 0, 0).
  4. Place these three coordinate vectors as the columns of the 3x3 matrix.

Example

The script notes: 'Under this transformation, the i^\hat{i} vector moves down to the negative z-axis at coordinates (0,0,−1)(0, 0, -1). The j^\hat{j} vector remains stationary on the y-axis at (0,1,0)(0, 1, 0)... Meanwhile, the k^\hat{k} vector swings over to the positive x-axis at (1,0,0)(1, 0, 0). These resulting coordinate triplets become the respective columns of the rotation matrix.'

Common misconceptions

  • Assuming i^\hat{i} rotates to the positive z-axis instead of the negative z-axis.
  • Placing the coordinates of the rotated vectors as rows instead of columns.

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