Loci

A locus is a set of points satisfying a certain condition. For example, the locus of points that
are 1cm from the origin is a circle of radius 1cm centred on the origin, since all points on this
circle are 1cm from the origin.
N.B. if a point P is equidistant from to points A and B, then the distance !eteen P and A
is the same as the distance !eteen P and B, as illustrated here"
#he points on the line are equidistant from A and B
$ont let the term %locus% put you off. &uestions on loci 'hich is the plural of locus( often
dont use the term.
Example
#he diagram shos to points P and &. )n the diagram shade the region hich contains all
the points hich satisfy !oth the folloing" the distance from P is less than *cm, the distance
from P is greater than the distance from &.
All of the points on the circumference of the circle are *cm from P. #herefore all of the points
satisfying the condition that the distance from P is less than *cm are in the circle.
+f e dra a line in the middle of P and &, all of the points on this line ill !e the same
distance from P as they are from &. #hey ill !e therefore closer to &, and further aay from
P, if they are on the right of such a line.
#herefore all of the points satisfying !oth of these conditions are shaded in red.
Three important loci
, -ee more at" http"...mathsre/ision.net.gcse,maths,re/ision.shape,and,
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