LOCI IN TWO DIMENSIONS

1. A locus in two dimensions is the PATH along which A POINT MOVES

in a plane so as to satisfy some given conditions.
2. For examples:

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3. Describing the situations of 4 basic loci:
a. Situation 1: A point P moves in such a way that it is always x
cm from a fixed point.
Locus: A circle

Example: The chairs on Ferris wheel rotates in a clockwise

direction.

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b. Situation 2 : A point Q moves so that it is equidistant from two
fixed points, A and B.
Locus : A perpendicular bisector

Example : The captain of a ship ensures that the ship is always

equidistant from two island to avoid any accident.

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4. Situation 3: A point X moves so that it is always 5cm from a straight
line PQ.
Locus: Two parallel lines

Example: A boy running parallel to a fence.

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5. Situation 4: A point P moves so that it is always equidistant fro two
intersecting lines L1 and L2.
Locus: Angle bisector

Example: A lizard crawls on the ceiling so that it is equidistant from

two adjoining walls.

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Example 1:

Sketch and state the locus of the girl playing on the swing.

Example 2:

Sketch and state the locus of the feet of the boy riding a bicycle.

Example 3:

Sketch and state the locus of the crab.

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Example 4:

TUVW is a square. Construct the locus of a moving point which is always

equidistant from TU and TW.

Example 5:

A point moves so that it is always 4 cm from a straight line MN. Construct

the locus of the point below.

Example 6:

Sketch and state the locus of an oscillation of a pendulum bob.

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Example 7:

Sketch and state the locus of an ant that crawls in such a way that it always
equidistant from two flower pots, A and B

Example 8:

Sketch and state the locus of the tip of a moving helicopter’s rotor fan.

Example 9:

Sketch and state the locus of the boy playing on the slide.

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6. The intersection of two loci on a two-dimensional plane is
a point / points which satisfy the conditions of both loci.
7. The intersection may be determined by constructing the two loci on
the same diagram.
Example:
The diagram below shows a rhombus of sides 13cm. PTR and QTS are
straight lines and TR=5cm. Which among the points A, B, C and D is
equidistant from PQ and QR but less than 12cm from Q?

Solution:
In the rhombus PQRS, QR-13 and TR=5cm. Therefore, QT=12cm
(Pythagoras Theorem)
Both A and C are equidistant from PQ and QR but only A is less than
12cm from Q. So, answer is A.

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Unit title LOCI IN TWO DIMENSION – CD ( _____________ )

Teacher(s) MR. SHAHRUL

Subject and grade level MATHEMATICS MYP 3

Time frame and duration

1. The locus of a basketball when thrown is a

a. Circle c. Semicircle
b. Straight line d. Curve

2. Which of the following shows the locus of an arrow which is released

horizontally?

3. The locus of a point moving in such a way that it is always 3cm from a
fixed point O is a

a. Circle c. Rectangle
b. Straight line d. Curve

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4. The diagram below shows a straight line KL. P is a point which moves
so that it is equidistant from K and L. which of the following is the
locus of P?

5. The diagram below shows a kite PQRS. The locus of a point, within the
kite, which moves so that it is equidistant from the point Q and the
point S is

a. RQ c. RP
b. QP d. RS

6. The above diagram shows a disc with centre O. When the disc is
rotated through 360°, the locus of the point P is a

a. Straight line PR
b. Rectangle PQRS
c. Semicircle
d. Full circle

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7. A point M moves so that it is always 4cm from a fixed point O. Which
of the following is the locus of point M?

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