What does rotation refer to in geometry?

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In geometry, rotation specifically refers to the movement of a figure around a fixed point, which is often called the center of rotation. During this process, the figure turns about that point by a specified angle, measured in degrees. The rotation can be clockwise or counterclockwise, and all points of the figure move in a circular path around the center while maintaining their relative positions with respect to each other. This transformation keeps the shape and size of the figure unchanged, merely altering its orientation in the plane.

The other options describe different geometric transformations. For instance, changing the size of a figure proportionally refers to dilation, which alters the dimensions of the figure but not its shape. Gliding a figure in a straight line represents translation, a transformation that moves a figure without changing its orientation. Creating a copy of a figure in a different location suggests the concept of reflection or translation, depending on context, but it does not capture the essence of rotation which is about turning around a point.

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