In mathematics, relating to transformations that preserve parallel lines but not necessarily angles or distances; in chemistry, having chemical affinity or tendency to combine.
From Latin affīnis 'bordering on, neighboring,' from ad- 'to' + fīnis 'boundary.' In mathematics, the term was chosen because affine transformations preserve the parallel relationships between objects, as if they shared boundaries.
Computer graphics and animation use 'affine transformations' constantly—they're the math behind stretching, rotating, and skewing images while keeping parallel lines parallel, which is why when you resize a photo it doesn't distort like it would with other transformations.
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