Locus

A locus is a set of points that satisfy some given conditions.

Type of locus questions
Assume the moving point is P and fixed points are A and B
The locus of points that is always x units from a point:
A circle, ie PA = x.

The locus of points is always equidistant from 2 fixed points:
A straight line, ie PA = PB.

The locus of points moves so that it is always twice the distance from
1 point that it is from another:
A circle, ie PA = 2PB or PB = 2PA, be VERY careful.

The point P moves so that PA is perpendicular to PB:
A circle, ie ZPAB = 90, AB is the diameter.

The locus of points that is equidistant from a point and a line:
A parabola, ie PA = PB.
Example 1
Find the locus of a point that moves so that it is always 6 units from
the point A(3, 2).
Let P be (x, y), we want PA = 6
6 ) 2 ( ) 3 (
2 2
= + y x
36 ) 2 ( ) 3 (
2 2
= + + y x
I would leave it in this form as you can see the centre and the radius.
Text books often expand their answers, why???????
Example 2
Find the locus of a point that moves so that it is equidistant from the
point B(1, 4) and C(3, 2).
Let P be (x, y), we want PB = PC
2 2 2 2
) 2 ( ) 3 ( ) 4 ( ) 1 ( + = + y x y x
4 4 9 6 16 8 1 2
2 2 2 2
+ + + + = + + + + y y x x y y x x
0 = 8x 12y 4
0 = 2x 3y 1
+17 +13
Example 3
2 2 2 2
) 2 ( ) 1 ( 2 ) 3 ( ) 5 ( + + = + y x y x
Find the locus of a point that moves so that it is twice the distance
from the point D(5, 3) as it is from the point E(1, 2).
Let P be (x, y), we want PD = 2PE
( ) 4 4 1 2 4 9 6 25 10
2 2 2 2
+ + + + = + + + y y x x y y x x
20 16 4 8 4 34 6 10
2 2 2 2
+ + + = + + y y x x y y x x
14 22 3 2 3 0
2 2
+ + + = y y x x
WHY? PD:PE = 2:1
PD
/
PE
=
2
/
1
PD = 2PE
This will not factorise easily, so this is how I would leave the answer.
14
3
22
3
2
2 2
= + + + y y x x
2
3
1
|
.
|

\
|
+
2
3
11
|
.
|

\
|
+
9
122
+
9
5
27
3
11
3
1
2 2
=
|
.
|

\
|
+ +
|
.
|

\
|
+ y x
9
266
2
= r
3
266
,
3
11
,
3
1
=
|
.
|

\
|

radius centre
Example 4
( ) ( ) 25 10 4 4 16 4 4 36 12 9
2 2 2 2
+ + + + = + + + y y x x y y x x
2 2 2 2
) 5 ( ) 2 ( 4 ) 2 ( ) 6 ( 3 + + = + y x y x
Find the locus of a point that moves so the ratio of PF to PG is 4:3,
where F = (6, 2) and G = (2, 5).
Let P be (x, y), we want 3PF = 4PG
464 160 16 64 16 360 36 108 9
2 2 2 2
+ + + = + + y y x x y y x x
104 124 7 172 7 0
2 2
+ + + = y y x x
This will not factorise easily, so this is how I would leave the answer.
104
7
124
7
172
2 2
= + + y y x x
2
7
86
|
.
|

\
|
+
2
7
62
|
.
|

\
|
+
47
21904
+
49
1
343
7
62
7
86
2 2
=
|
.
|

\
|
+ +
|
.
|

\
|
+ y x
49
16808
2
= r
7
4202 2
,
7
62
,
7
86
=
|
.
|

\
|

radius centre
Exercise 10.2
Page 383
Q18
WHY? PF:PG = 4:3
PF
/
PG
=
4
/
3
3PF = 4PG
Exercise 9.8
Page 371
Q1 a, c, e, g, h
Q3
Todays work
Exercise 10.2
Page 383
Q18
Yesterdays work
P
13cm