Edexcel 4MA1Cambridge 0580
IGCSE Math Revision Questions by topic Revision notes Past papers Student hub

Cambridge IGCSE Maths (0580) · Revision notes · Topic 7 of 9

Cambridge IGCSE Maths 0580 Transformations and Vectors Notes

Revision notes for topic 7, Transformations and vectors, of the Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580) syllabus for exams in 2025, 2026 and 2027. Each of the 4 sub-topics lists what the syllabus asks, marked Core or Extended, with a short explanation and a worked example. Cover the answer and try each example first.

Core Core students (Papers 1 and 3) learn the Core statements. Extended Extended students (Papers 2 and 4) learn everything: the Core statements, the Extended additions and the Extended-only sub-topics. Papers 1 and 2 are non-calculator.

7.1 Transformations

Core C7.1 Extended E7.1

  • Recognise, describe and draw reflections, rotations (multiples of 90°), enlargements (positive and fractional scale factors) and translations (by a column vector)

Extended also: Reflections in lines such as y = x and y = -x, and enlargements with negative scale factors.

Same mathematics as Edexcel 4MA1.

0580 practice questions

6 questions written for 0580 in the Transformations and vectors practice: 6 Core, 3 non-calculator, each with a Cambridge-style mark scheme (M method, A accuracy, B independent marks). Two of them:

Practice question (Core, non-calculator, 2 marks):

Write down the image of each point after the translation.

(a) \((3, 2)\) translated by \(\begin{pmatrix} 4 \\ -5 \end{pmatrix}\) (b) \((-1, 6)\) translated by \(\begin{pmatrix} -2 \\ 3 \end{pmatrix}\)

Show the answer and mark scheme
  • B1 (a) (7, −3)
  • B1 (b) (−3, 9)

Answer: (a) \((7, -3)\) (b) \((-3, 9)\)

Practice question (Core, non-calculator, 2 marks):

The point \((4, 1)\) is reflected. Write down its image after a reflection in

(a) the \(y\)-axis (b) the \(x\)-axis.

Show the answer and mark scheme
  • B1 (a) (−4, 1)
  • B1 (b) (4, −1)

Answer: (a) \((-4, 1)\) (b) \((4, -1)\)

Edexcel 4MA1 notes: Geometry and Trigonometry (all notes)
Practise (4MA1 questions, same mathematics): Transformations questions

7.2 Vectors in two dimensions

Extended only E7.2

Extended: Vector notation and column vectors; Add and subtract vectors and multiply a vector by a scalar.

Same mathematics as Edexcel 4MA1.

Revise it

A vector has size and direction. Add column vectors component by component; parallel vectors are multiples of each other.

Example: a = (3, −1), b = (1, 2). Find 2a + b.

Answer: (6, −2) + (1, 2) = (7, 0).

Edexcel 4MA1 notes: Vectors
Practise (4MA1 questions, same mathematics): Vectors questions

7.3 Magnitude of a vector

Extended only E7.3

Extended: The magnitude of a column vector (x, y) is √(x² + y²).

Same mathematics as Edexcel 4MA1.

Edexcel 4MA1 notes: Vectors
Practise (4MA1 questions, same mathematics): Vectors questions

7.4 Vector geometry

Extended only E7.4

Extended: Express vectors in terms of two others; position vectors; Use vectors to show lines are parallel or points are collinear.

Same mathematics as Edexcel 4MA1.

Edexcel 4MA1 notes: Vectors
Practise (4MA1 questions, same mathematics): Vectors questions

Practise transformations and vectors

6 practice questions are written for 0580 on 7.1. For the 4 sub-topics that are the same mathematics in Edexcel 4MA1, the practice also has our 4MA1 Higher questions, which are Extended level. Core students: use the Core filter on the practice page; every sub-topic with Core content has questions written for 0580 Core. Practice is part of the IGCSE plan, with a free preview; these notes are free.