Chapter 7 : Coordinate Geometry

7.4 Equation of loci

A. Determining the equation of loci
• The locus of a moving point is the path travelled by the point that
satisfies the given conditions
• The equation of the locus of a moving point can be determined
such that
(a) Its distance from a fixed point is a constant
(b) The ratio of its distances from two fixed points is a constant.
Locus of a moving point from a fixed point
is constant

PA = r
( x − x1 ) + ( y − y1 ) =r
2 2

( 1) (
− + − 1) =
2 22
x x y y r
 Example 1:
Find the equation of the locus of a moving point P such that its distance
from point 𝐴(2,5) is always 3 units.

PA = 3

( x − 2 ) + ( y − 5) =3
2 2

( x − 2 ) + ( y − 5) =3
2 2 2

x 2 − 4 x + 4 + y 2 − 10 y + 25 = 9

x 2 + y 2 − 4 x − 10 y + 20 = 0
Example 2:
The coordinates of point A are 8, 0 . Point 𝑃 𝑥, 𝑦 moves such that 𝑃𝐴 = 5𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠.
Find the equation of locus of point P.

PA = 5

( x − 8) + ( y − 0 ) =5
2 2

( x − 8) + y 2 = 52
2

x 2 − 16 x + 64 + y 2 = 25

x 2 + y 2 − 16 x + 39 = 0
Ratio of distances from two fixed points is
a constant
PA m
=
PB n

( x − x1 ) + ( y − y1 )
2 2
m
=
( 2) (
− + − 2)
n
2 2
x x y y

( x − x1 ) + ( y − y1 )
2 2
m2
= 2
( x − x2 ) + ( y − y2 )
2 2
n
Ratio of distances from two fixed points is a
constant
• When 𝑃𝐴 = 𝑃𝐵 , 𝑃 𝑥, 𝑦 is always same distance from two fixed points
𝐴 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 and 𝐵 𝑥2 , 𝑦2 , locus of P is the perpendicular bisector of line AB.

PA = PB

( x − x1 ) + ( y − y1 ) = ( x − x2 ) + ( y − y2 )
2 2 2 2
Locus P

( x − x1 ) + ( y − y1 ) = ( x − x2 ) + ( y − y2 )
2 2 2 2
 Example 1:
Find the equation of the locus of point Q that moves such that its distances
from the points 𝐵(3, −6) and 𝐶(−5, 2) are the same.

QB = QC

( x − 3) + ( y − ( −6 ) ) ( x − ( −5) ) + ( y − 2 )
2 2
=
2 2

( x − 3) + ( y + 6 ) = ( x + 5) + ( y − 2 )
2 2 2 2

x 2 − 6 x + 9 + y 2 + 12 y + 36 = x 2 + 10 x + 25 + y 2 − 4 y + 4

−16 x + 16 y + 16 = 0

x − y −1 = 0
Example 2:
𝑃(2, 0) and 𝑄(0, −2) are two fixed points. A point R moves such that
𝑃𝑅: 𝑅𝑄 = 1: 2 . Find the equation of locus of point R.

PR 1
=
RQ 2

2PR = RQ

( x − 2) + y = x + ( y − ( −2 ) )
2 2 2 2
2

4  x 2 − 4 x + 4 + y 2  = x 2 + y 2 + 4 y + 4

4 x 2 − 16 x + 16 + 4 y 2 = x 2 + y 2 + 4 y + 4
3 x 2 + 3 y 2 − 16 x − 4 y + 12 = 0
Example 3:
A point A moves such that its distance from point 𝑇(2, −2) is twice of its
distance from point 𝑆(0, 4) . Find the equation of the locus of point A.

AT = 2 AS
( x − 2 ) + ( y − ( −2 ) ) = 2 x + ( y − 4)
2 2 2 2

x 2 − 4 x + 4 + y 2 + 4 x + 4 = 4  x 2 + y 2 − 8 y + 16 

x 2 − 4 x + 4 + y 2 + 4 x + 4 = 4 x 2 + 4 y 2 − 32 y + 64
3 x 2 + 3 y 2 + 4 x − 36 y + 56 = 0
Example 4:
Find the equation of the locus of point A that moves such that its distances
from the points 𝑃(2, 1) and 𝑄(−1, −2) are in the ratio 3: 2.

PA : AQ = 3: 2
PA 3
=
AQ 2
2 PA = 3 AQ

( x − 2 ) + ( y − 1) ( x − ( −1) ) + ( y − ( −2 ) )
2 2
=3
2 2
2

4  x 2 − 4 x + 4 + y 2 − 2 y + 1 = 9  x 2 + 2 x + 1 + y 2 + 4 y + 4 

4 x 2 − 16 x + 16 + 4 y 2 − 8 y + 4 = 9 x 2 + 18 x + 9 + 9 y 2 + 36 y + 36
5 x 2 + 5 y 2 + 34 x + +44 y + 25 = 0
B. Solving problems involving the equation of
loci
 Example 1:
A water sprinkler is built at the point 𝑄(−1,4) in a Cartesian plane. The x-
axis is the road. Show that the equation of the locus of the watering track
where its distance from point Q is always 3 units and does not touch the
road.

PQ = 3 On x-axis, y = 0
x2 + 2 x + 8 = 0
( x − ( −1) ) + ( y − 4 )
2
=3
2

b2 − 4ac = 22 − 4 (1)(8)
x 2 + 2 x + 1 + y 2 − 8 y + 16 = 9 = −28
x2 + y 2 + 2x − 8 y + 8 = 0

Since b 2 − 4ac  0, locus of watering track will not intersect x-axis.

Example 2:
Given the points 𝐴(1,2) and 𝐵(7,5) , find the equation of the locus of the
moving point P such that triangle APB always has a right angle at P.

Given APB=90 , therefore AP is perpendicular to PB.

mAP  mPB = −1
y −2 y −5
 = −1
x −1 x − 7
( y − 2)( y − 5) = − ( x − 1)( x − 7 )
y 2 − 7 y + 10 = − ( x 2 − 8 x + 7 )

y 2 − 7 y + 10 = − x 2 + 8 x − 7

x 2 + y 2 − 8 x − 7 y + 17 = 0
Example 3:
In the diagram, JKLM is a trapezium. The equation of the straight line JK is 2𝑦 − 𝑥 = 4 and
the coordinates of L are (0,6).
(a) Find
(i) The equation of the straight line JM
(ii) The coordinates of point M
(b) Point 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦) moves along the circumferences of a circle that passes through the points
L and J such that LJ is the diameter of a circle. Find the equation of the locus of point P.
Example 3:
(i) The equation of the straight line JM

2y − x = 4 On x-axis, y = 0
1
y = x+2 1
2 0= x+2
2
1
mJK =
2 x = −4
1
 mJM = −1 J = ( −4, 0 )
2
mJM = −2 Equation of the straight line JM:

y − 0 = −2 ( x − ( −4 ) )

y = −2 x − 8
Example 3:
(ii) The coordinates of point M
1
mML = mJK =
2
Equation of the straight line ML:

1
y= x+6
2
−4 x − 16 = x + 12
1  28 
y = − +6
5x = −28 2 5 
28 16
x=− y=
5 5

 28 16 
M = − , 
 5 5
 Example 3:
(b) Point 𝑃(𝑥,𝑦) moves along the circumferences of a circle that passes through the points
L and J such that LJ is the diameter of a circle. Find the equation of the locus of point P.

LJ = ( 0 − 4) + (6 − 0)
2 2

= ( −4 ) + ( 6 )
2 2

= 2 13

radius = 13

0−4 6+0 ( x − ( −2 ) ) + ( y − 3)
2 2
= 13
Midpoint of LJ =  , 
 2 2 
= ( −2,3) x 2 + 4 x + 4 + y 2 − 6 y + 9 = 13
x2 + 4x + y 2 − 6 y = 0