Locus is the path of a moving point or a point or set of

points that satisfies given conditions.

A figure of ‘8’ A circle

 square triangle
circle

vertical line pentagon curve / arc

Describe and sketch the locus of the moving point

 The tip of a minute hand rotating on the face of a

clock.
A circle

 A stone is dropped from the first floor of a building.

A vertical line

 The Earth revolves round the sun.

An ellipse / a oval circle
 A swinging pendulum.
An arc

 The centre of the wheel of a moving vehicle

on the road.
A horizontal straight line

 A competitor running in a 400 m race in the

field.
An oval
Exercise:

 9.1A Question 2
 9.1B All
The locus of a moving point P that is at a constant distance
from a fixed point O is a circle with centre O.

Locus of P
O

The locus of P is a circle with

radius OP and centre O.
The locus of a moving point R equidistant from two fixed
points A and B is the perpendicular bisector of the line
AB.

Locus of R

|| ||
A B

The locus of R is the perpendicular bisector of AB.

The locus of a moving point that is a constant distance from
a straight line AB are two straight lines that are parallel to
AB.
S T

A B Locus
=

U V

The locus are two lines ST and UV that

are parallel to AB.
The locus of a moving point that is at equidistant from
two intersecting lines AB and CD is a pair of straight
lines which bisect the angles between the two
intersecting lines.
S

C B

P Q

Locus
A D
R

The locus are two straight lines PQ and RS which bisect the
angles between the two intersecting lines.
Determine the locus of the points which satisfy the given
condition
A point P moves at a A point P moves such that it
distance of 6 cm from a is 3 cm from the line AB.
fixed point O.
Two straight lines
A circle with centre O
parallel to AB and 3 cm
and a radius 6 cm.
from line AB.
A point P moves such that it A point P moves such that it
is equidistant from two is equidistant from the point
intersecting line AB and CD. E and F.

The perpendicular
Two angle bisectors. bisector of the line EF.
Constructing
Constructing the
the locus
locus

To construct the locus:

 Describe or sketch the locus.

 Decide on a suitable scale.

 Construct the locus accurately.

 Step 3: Construct the locus
accurately.

1. Place a pair of compasses

1.5 m
on a ruler to measure a
distance of 1.5 cm.
2. With the point pupil B as
centre, draw an arc 1.5 cm
Locus of from B to form a circle.
pupil A
3. This is the locus of pupil A.
A circle with pupil B as the
centre and a radius of 1.5 m
Step 1: Describe or sketch the locus.

Step 2: Decide on a suitable scale.

1 cm represent 1 m.
Step 3: Construct the locus
accurately.
A
1. Set your compasses to a
length more than half of XY. Locus of S
Place the point of your
compasses at X and draw || ||
an arc above and below the
line.
2. With the same length, place
B
the point of your compasses
at Y and draw two arcs to Perpendicular bisector
intersect the first two arcs at of line XY
A and B.
Step 1: Describe or sketch the locus.
3. Draw a line through A and
B. This is the locus of S. Step 2: Decide on a suitable scale.

1 cm represent 1 cm.
 Step 3: Construct the locus
Locus of Z accurately.
1. Mark a point A on the line XY.

1.8 cm 2. Construct perpendicular

bisectors to the line segment
C XA and AY. Mark the points of
B A the intersection of the
1.8 cm perpendiculars with line XY as
B and C.
Locus of Z
3. Set your compasses to a
length of 1.8 cm. Place the
Two parallel lines at a point of your compasses at B
and draw an arc on the
constant distance of 1.8 cm
perpendicular above and
from XY below the line. Repeat with
Step 1: Describe or sketch the locus. the point of your compasses
at C.
Step 2: Decide on a suitable scale.
4. Draw a line 1.8 cm marks in
1 cm represent 1 cm. step 3. This is the locus of Z.
 Step 3: Construct the locus
accurately.
1. Set a pair of compasses to Locus of C
about half of the length of OP.
Place the point of your A
compasses at O and draw arcs
to cut line OP and OR at A and B
respectively. O
Locus of C
2. Place the point of the
B
compasses at A and then at B to
draw two arcs that intersect.
3. Draw a line through O and the Two angle bisectors of the
point where the arcs intersect. angles formed by the line
This line is the bisector of POB PQ and RS
and SOQ.
Step 1: Describe or sketch the locus.
4. Use the step 1, 2 and 3 as a
guide to draw the bisector of Step 2: Decide on a suitable scale.
POS and ROQ. The bisector
of the angles is the locus of C. 1 cm represent 1 cm.
 ||

|| Locus of P

1 cm Locus of W

B C
A
1 cm

Locus of W

Locus of Q
 Locus of Q

1.5 cm

Locus of R
 Locus of T

1 cm C
Locus of S

1 cm
B

Locus of T
Locus of U
The intersection of two loci is the point or
points that satisfy the conditions
of the two loci.

The points of intersection of two loci that is

(a) equidistant from A and B,
(b) a constant distance from A.

X
×B A constant The points X and
distance from A. Y are the points of
intersection of the
two loci.
A
× Y
Equidistant
from A and B.
Locus of Y
Locus of X

 
 Locus of Y


Locus of X


 ||
Locus of X
||

Locus of Y
 

Locus of P Locus of Q
Two intersection
 Locus of Y


|| ||

Locus of X Two intersection

 Locus of X


Locus of Y

Locus of Z
Construct a
straight line XY of
length 2.4 cm. Locus of P
Then construct
the locus of
• point P such A
that it is always Locus of Q

2.4 cm
1.5 cm from X. X Y

• point Q that is B

equidistant
from X and Y.
Mark the point of
intersection as A
and B.
Draw an equilateral
triangle ABC with
sides of length 3 cm. C
Then, construct the
locus of point that is 3 cm  E
• equidistant 3 cm
from A and
B.
• 2 cm from B.
Mark the point of A 3 cm B
intersection as D and
E.
D
