CDS

33
CHAPTER
Loci
Locus: 1f a point moves
according to some given geometrical conditions, then the path tracea
out by the moving point is called its locus.
Ex. 1. 1f a point moves in such a
way that its distance from a given fixed point is always constant,
htr then the locus of the path is a circle.
Ex. 2. The locus of a point
equidistant from two given points A and B is the perpendicular
bisector of AB.
Ex. 3. The locus of a point
equidistant from two intersecting lines is the angle bisector of the
angle made by these lines.
Ex. 4. Ifl and m be two lines such that m.
|| If a point moves in such a way that it is equidistant
from land m, then locus is a line in
just mid-way between and m and parallel to each one
Ex. 5. Locus of the centres of all circles of them.
passing through two given points A and B is the
perpendicular bisector of AB.
Ex. 6.If the bisectors of ZB and 4C ofa
from AB and CD.
quadrilateral ABCD intersect in P, then Pis equidistant
Ex. 7. If AB is a fixed line segment, then the locus of a point P such that 2 APB =
90°, is a
Circle with AB as diameter.
7D Ex.8. The locus of the vertices of isosceles triangles having a
common base is the perpendicular
Disector of the base.
Ex. 9. AB is fixed line. The locus of a point P that AB"
a so
=AP? +BP is a circle with 4R a
diameter.
Ex. 10. The locus of mid-points of equal chords of a circle is the circle concentric
with the given
urcle and radius equal to the distance of equal chords from the centre.
Ex. 11. The locus of mid-points of parallel chords of a circle is the diameter of the circle
perpendicular to the parallel chords.
EXERCISE 33
Consider a point which moves such that its distances from two given points A and B aree
qual.
Then, the locus of the point P is:
(b) a circle with centre at B.
(N.D.A., 1994)
(a) a circle with centre at A.
(c) a straight line passing through either A or B
(d) a straight line, which is the right bisector of AB.
T h e locus of a point P which moves in such a way that distance irom a fixed straight line :

constant, is: (N.D.A. 1990)

(a) a circle.
(6) a straight line perpendicular to the given line.
a straight line parallel to the given line.
d) a straight line intersecting the given straight line at an acute angle.
665
666
Mathematics for CDS
3. The locus of a point equidistant from two
intersecting lines is:
(a) a single line (6) a pair of lines (c) a circle d) a parabola
4. Which of the following is incorrect?
statements
(a) A circle is the locus
of a point.
(b) The locus of the points which are equidistant from three non-collinear
of the circle passing points is the centre
through the given points.
(c) The locus of the points which are equidistant from three distinct
parallel to the given line. points on a line is a line
(d) None of these
5. The locus of a point inside a circle. and equidistant from two given points on the circle:
(a) is the chord joining the two points.
(b) is a circle with the line joining the two points, as its
(c) is the perpendicular bisector of the chord
diameter.
joining the two points.
(d) does not exist.
6. The locus of the
mid-points of equal chords of a circle is: (N.D.A. 1993)
(a) a circle
(6) a diameter
(c) a line not passing through the centre of the circle
(d) None of these
7. If AB is a line
segment, then the locus of a point P such that LAPB 90°, is:
=

(a) a circle with AB as diameter.

(b) the triangle APB
(c) a semi-circle with AB as diameter.
(d) the perpendicular bisector of AB.
8. The locus of the
mid-points of parallel chords of a circle is:
(a) a circle.
(b) the line joining the mid-points
(c) the diameter perpendicular to the given chords.
(d) None of these
9. In a A ABC, the point on ABC which is equidistant from sides AB and AC is the
(a) the median fiom A meets BC one where:
(b) the bisector of ZBAC meets BC
(c) the altitude on BC meets BC
(d) the per perpendicular bisector of BC intersects BC.
10. Two fixed circles are the same
in plane. If P is a point in that plane and the
the two circles are
equal, then the locus of P: tangents from Pto
(a) is a straight line perpendicular to the line
(6) is a circle joining the centres.
(c) is a parabola
(d) cannot be determined
11. Let C be a circle. A
point P moves such that the
The locus of P is: tangents from P to C include an angle of bu
(a) a straight line (C.D.S, 1993)
(c) a circle touching C (b) circle concentric with C
a

12. A number of (d) a circle intersecting C at two

locus of their
triangles on the same base and on the same
side of it are of
points
vertices is: equal areas. Then, u
(a) a straight line parallel to the base
(c) a straight line parallel to the (6) a circle with the base as the
altitude of a diameter
(d) None of these triangle on the given base
 667
Loci

13. Pis a point in a rectangle ABCD such that PA + PD =

PC+ PB. The locus of P is:
(N.D.A., 1993)
BC
(b) perpendicular bisector of AB
or
(a) diagonal AC or BD.
(c) a circle (d) None of these
14. The locus of the vertices of the isosceles triangles formed on a given base BC is:
(a) a circle (6) a line per perpendicular to BC
(c) bisector of BC (d) right bisector of BC
P moves suchthat the sum of the of its distances from two fixed points A
15. If a point squares
and B is a constant, then the locus of P is: (N.D.A., 1994)

(a) a straight line (b) a circle

(c) the perpendicular bisector of AB (d) an arbitrary curve

the wheel
16. A wheel of diameter 80 cm rolls on a plane straight road. The locus of the centre of
IS
(a) a circle of radius 40 cm (6) a circle of radius 20 cm

distant from it
(c) a straight line parallel to the path of the wheel and 40 cm
(d) a straight line parallel to the path of the wheel and 80 cm distant from
it.
17. The locus ofthe mid-points of the equal chords of a given circle is: (CD.S. 1990)
circle with radius equal to the distance of the chords from the centre of the
(a) the concentric
given circle
to half the distance of the chords from the centre of
(b) the concentric circle with radius equal
the given circle
(c) the largest equilateral triangle inscribed in the given circle
d) None of these
ANSWERS
1. ( d ) 2 . (c) 3. (6) 4. ( c ) 5 . () 6. (b) 7. (a) 8. (e) 9. (6)
10. (a) 11. (6) 12. (a) 13. (b) 14. (d) 15. (6) 16. (c) 17. (a)

SOLUTIONS
1. Since PA=PB,SoP lies on the right bisector of AB. Hence, the required locus is a straight line
which is a right bisector of AB.
2. Since P moves in such a way that its distance from a fixed line is constant, so the locus of P
fixed line.
1s clearly a straight line parallel to the given
3. Locus ofa point equidistant from two intersecting lines is a pair of lines, which are the bisectors
lines.
of
the angles between the given straight
4. Clearly, () is incorrect. Actually, there is no point which is equidistant from three collinear
points.
S. Clearly, the locus is the perpendicular bisector of the chord joining the points.
6. Locus of mid-points of equal chords of a cirele is a Circle concentric with the given circle and
chords from the centre.
radius equal to the distance of equal
as diameter.
Clearly, the locus is a circle
of P with AB
8, The locus of the mid-points of the parallel chords of a circle is a diameter of the circle

the parallel chords.

perpendicular to
9, Clearly, the point on BC equidistant from A8 and AC, lies on the bisector of LBAC.
668
Mathematics for CDS
10. Clearly, the locus of P is line
11. (b).
a
perpendicular to the line joining the centres.
12. Clearly, the locus is a straight line parallel to the base, since As on the same base
the same parallels will be and between
equal in area.
13. (b).
14. Let P be a vertex.
Then, PB PC holds only when P lies on the right bisector of
=

locus of P is the BC. So, the

right bisector of BC.
15. Let P be the
moving point. Then, PA2 + PB constant. Clearly, the required locus is a
=

16. Clearly, the centre of the circle.

wheel moves along the
the path of the wheel. path and remains at a distance of 40 cm
So, the required locus is a line parallel to the path of the wheel from
distance of 40 cm from it. and at a
17. Clearly, the locus is
given by (a).

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS

EXERCISSE
1. ABCDA is non-cyclic quadrilateral of a circle ABCD with radius r and centre at
a

the diameter and CD is O. If AB is

parallel and half of AB and if the circle
the centre O, then the locus of the
middle point of CD is a completes one rotation about
circle of radius
a line
()23
3 (d)
3

ICDS (I) Exam, 2016]

ANSWERS

1. (d)

SOLUTIONS

1. As Ccompletes one revolution on the circle, D would also

midpoint of CD Would move on G circle of radius v3 r /2complete one revolution
and centre O
and M, the

r/2