Modern geometry

LOCUS
 Definition
Locus is a Latin word meaning “place” or “position”

In Geometry, a Locus is a set of points which satisfies a

given condition or situation for a shape or a figure.

The plural form of locus is loci and the area of the loci is
called a region
 Determining Locus
Locus Theorem 1:
The Locus at the fix distance “d” from the point “p” is
considered to be a circle with “p” as its center and “d” as
its diameter.
 Determining Locus

This theorem helps to determine the region

formed by all the points which are located at
the same distance from a single point.
 Example
Construct the locus of a point P at a constant distance of 2 cm from a fixed point Q.

Solution:
Construct a circle with center Q and radius 2 cm.
 Determining Locus
Locus Theorem 2:
The locus which is equidistant from the two given points say A
and B, are considered as perpendicular bisectors of the line
segment that joints the two points.
 Determining Locus

This theorem helps to determine the region

formed by all the points which are located at the
same distance from a point A and as from point B.
The region formed should be perpendicular
bisector of the line segment AB.
 Example
Construct the locus of point P moving equidistant from fixed points X and Y and
XY = 6 cm.

Solution:
Construct a perpendicular bisector of the line XY.
 Determining Locus
Locus Theorem 3:
The Locus at the fix distance “d” from the line “m” is
considered as a pair of parallel lines that are located on
either side of “m” at a distance “d” from the line “m”.
 Determining Locus

This theorem helps to find the region

formed by all the points which are located at
the same distance from a single line.
 Example
Construct the locus of a point P that moves a constant distant of 2 cm from a
straight line AB.

Solution:
Construct a pair of parallel lines 2 cm from AB.
 Determining Locus
Locus Theorem 4:
The locus which is equidistant from the two parallel lines say
m1 and m2, is considered to be a line parallel to both the lines m1
and m2 and it should be half way between them.
 Determining Locus

This theorem helps to find the region

formed by all the points which are at the same
distance from the two parallel lines.
 Determining Locus
Locus Theorem 5:
The locus which is equidistant from the two intersecting lines
say m1 and m2, is considered to be a pair of lines that bisects the
angle produced by the two lines m1 and m2.
 Determining Locus

This theorem helps to find the region

formed by all the points which are located at
the same distance from the two intersecting
lines. The region formed should be a pair of
lines that bisect the angle formed.
 Example
The following figure shows two straight lines AB and CD intersecting at point O.
Construct the locus of point P such that it is always equidistant from AB and CD.

Solution: Construct angles bisectors of angles between lines AB and CD.

 Determining Locus
Locus Theorem 6:
The locus which is present on the interior of an angle
equidistant from the sides of an angle is considered to be the
bisector of the angle
 Determining Locus

This theorem helps to determine the region

formed by all the points which are at the same
distance from both sides of an angle. The
region should be the angle bisector.
 Intersection Of Two Loci

 Sometimes you may be required to determine the

locus of a point that satisfies two or more
conditions. We could do this by constructing the
locus for each of the conditions and then
determine where the two loci intersect.
 Example
Given the line AB and the point Q, find one or more points that are 3 cm from AB and 5 cm
from Q.
 Example
Solution:
Construct a pair of parallel lines 3 cm from line AB. Draw a circle with center Q and radius 5
cm.

The points of intersections are indicated by points X and Y.

It means that the locus consists of the two points X and Y.
 Example
Given a square PQRS with sides 3 cm. Construct the locus of a point which is 2 cm
from P and equidistant from PQ and PS. Mark the points as A and B.
Solution:
Construct a circle with center P and radius 2 cm. Since PQRS is a square, the
diagonal PR would be the angle bisector of the angle formed by the lines PQ and
PS. The diagonal when extended intersects the circle at points A and B.
Note: 
A common mistake is to identify only one point
when there could be another point which could be
found by extending the construction lines or arcs;
as in the previous examples.
 Proving a Locus
1. In an Isosceles triangle show that the bisector of the angle formed between two similar
sides is also an altitude, a median, and a perpendicular bisector of the side of that triangle.

In ΔABD and ACD, 

AB = AC 
∠BAD = ∠CAD [\(\because\) AD, is bisector of ∠A] 
Again, AD = AD 
Therefore, ΔABD ≅ ΔACD 
Thus, BD = CD 
AD is also a median 
and ∠ADB = ∠ADC = 90° 
Hence, AD is the perpendicular bisector of BC.
 Proving a Locus
2. In the figure given below, two isosceles triangles ΔPBC and ΔQBC lie on both sides of BC at
common base BC. Prove that line joining P and Q bisects line BC at 90°.
Given = ΔPBC and ΔQBC are the two isosceles triangles
which lie on both sides of base BC. 
Here, PB = PC and BQ = CQ 
To prove: ∠POB = ∠POC = 90° 
or, ∠QOB = ∠QOC = 90° 
In ΔPBC, PB = PC (Given) 
Therefore, ∠PBO = ∠PCO (Equal sides) 
PO = PO Common by S.A.S. congruence of 
 Proving a Locus
2. In the figure given below, two isosceles triangles ΔPBC and ΔQBC lie on both sides of BC at
common base BC. Prove that line joining P and Q bisects line BC at 90°.
ΔPOB ≅ ΔPOC ⇒ ∠PBO = ∠POC ….(i) 
As we know that ∠PBO + ∠POC = 180° 
∠PBO + ∠POB = 180° [From equation (i)] 
2∠POB = 180° 
∠POB = 180°/2 = 90° 
∠PBO = ∠POC = 90° 
Similarly, ∠QOB = ∠QOC = 90° 
Hence, PQ, bisects BC at 90°
 Proving a Locus
Prove that locus of centers of circles passing through points A and B is a perpendicular bisector of
line segment X1X.

A and B is a perpendicular bisector of

line segment X1X
• Let us assume that P and Q are the centers of
two circle C and C1 each passing through two
given points A and B. 

Then, PA = PB (radii of the circle C) ⇒ P that lies on the perpendicular bisector AB ….(i) 
Again QA = QB ⇒ Q also lies on the perpendicular bisector AB … (ii) 
 Proving a Locus
Prove that locus of centers of circles passing through points A and B is a perpendicular
bisector of line segment X1X.

From (i) and (ii) it can be summed up that P and Q

both lie on the perpendicular bisector AB. 

Therefore, the locus of the centers of all the circles passing through A and B is the
perpendicular bisector AB.
Thank you for listening!!!