Loci in Two Dimensions
Loci in Two Dimensions
Loci in Two Dimensions
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:
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
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.
4. Situation 3: A point X moves so that it is always 5cm from a straight line PQ. Locus: Two parallel lines
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.
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 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 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:
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Sketch and state the locus of the tip of a moving helicopters rotor fan.
Example 9: Sketch and state the locus of the boy playing on the slide.
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?
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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
Teacher(s) Subject and grade level Time frame and duration
1. The locus of a basketball when thrown is a a. Circle b. Straight line c. Semicircle 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 b. Straight line c. Rectangle 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 b. QP
c. RP 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
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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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