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Old 11-15-2008, 08:08 AM
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Default What is a Locus?

What is a Locus in simple words?
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Old 11-15-2008, 08:17 AM
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A circle.
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Old 11-15-2008, 08:56 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by magentarita View Post
What is a Locus in simple words?
A locus is a set of points that satisfy a given condition.

Suppose, for example, : Find the locus of point P that is 6 cm from point C.

Now, see that,

All the points that are 6 cm from C make a circle.

these points lie on a circle with a radius of 6 cm.

Please see diagram
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Old 11-15-2008, 09:25 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by magentarita View Post
What is a Locus in simple words?
See another example,

Determine the locus of points equidistant from two points A and B

Let us make two circles with centre A and B and equal radius of AM = BM

so, point M is at equal distance from A and B.

change the distance AM = BM and make another circles keeping same centres.

so, the points of intersection of two circles give a line, which is locus (red dotted line in diagram).

See diagram
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Old 11-15-2008, 09:57 AM
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A locus is a set of points satisfying a certain condition.
A locus is a path. The path is formed by a point which moves according to some rule.

For e.g. If you want to find the locus of a point A lying 1 m away from a given point B, the locus is a circle of radius 1 m, with centre B. That's because A can lie 1 m away from B in any direction, and a circle is that path (locus) which fully describes where A can lie.

I hope that helps.

ILoveMaths07.
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Old 11-15-2008, 11:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shyam View Post
A locus is a set of points that satisfy a given condition.

Suppose, for example, : Find the locus of point P that is 6 cm from point C.

Now, see that,

All the points that are 6 cm from C make a circle.

these points lie on a circle with a radius of 6 cm.

Please see diagram
Thank you for the definition and question with picture.
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Old 11-15-2008, 11:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shyam View Post
See another example,

Determine the locus of points equidistant from two points A and B

Let us make two circles with centre A and B and equal radius of AM = BM

so, point M is at equal distance from A and B.

change the distance AM = BM and make another circles keeping same centres.

so, the points of intersection of two circles give a line, which is locus (red dotted line in diagram).

See diagram
Thank you ever so much.
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Old 11-15-2008, 11:14 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ILoveMaths07 View Post
A locus is a set of points satisfying a certain condition.
A locus is a path. The path is formed by a point which moves according to some rule.

For e.g. If you want to find the locus of a point A lying 1 m away from a given point B, the locus is a circle of radius 1 m, with centre B. That's because A can lie 1 m away from B in any direction, and a circle is that path (locus) which fully describes where A can lie.

I hope that helps.

ILoveMaths07.
I now understand it a bit more thanks to people like you.
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