Locus and the Parabola

Locus A set of points, described geometrically and often some sort of

curve
We use algebraic methods are required to find the equation of a locus

X2 + Y2 = 110

X + Y = 10

=8
LOCUS Simple algebraic relation involving y and x and some
constants.
Visualize it in form of a figure
Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Q.1 Sketch the locus of a point whose distance from the y-axis is 3 units, then write
down its equation.

Q.2 Sketch the locus of a point whose distance from the x-axis is 3 units, then write

down its equation

P (4 ,

Distance OP =

-X

P (6 ,

O
( 0,0)

( 40)2 +(30)2 =
16+9

= 5units

Distance OP ??

-YO
( 1,2)

O
( 1,2)
Distance OP ??

P (6 ,4)

O
( 1,2)

P (6 ,-4)

P (-6 ,

Distance OP ??

(4)2+(3)2

Distance OP ??

P
( x2,y2)

O
( x1,y1)

P
( x2,y2)
A
( x,y)

O
( x1,y1)

Slope =

y = mx + c

y 2 y 1
x 2x 1

=m

Finding c ??
First find the slope m
Substitute the value of x and y values of a given point say O (x,y) in the
equation y = mx + c and get the value of c
c = y - mx

Q.1 Find the locus of a line which connect O ( 2,4) and P ( 4,8)
Q.2 Find the locus of a line which connect O ( -2,-4) and P ( 4,8)
Q.3 Find the locus of a line which connect O ( -2, 4) and P ( 4,8)
Q.4 Find the locus of a line which connect O ( 2,-4) and P ( 4,8)
Distance from a point
Wordings :Examples

A point P(x,y) is Equidistant from a point A(1,2) and B ( 2,3)

Use distance formula AP = BP
Q. 1 Find the locus of the point P(x, y) whose distance from the point
A(2, 5) is equal to its distance from the point B(4,1).
Q.2 Find the locus of the point P(x, y) whose distance from the point
A(2, 5) is always twice its distance from the point B(4,1).
Q.3 Given the points A(1, 4) and B(3, 2), find the equation of each locus
of the point P(x, y) such that APB is 900

Q.4 Given the points A(1, 4) and B(3, 2), find the equation of each locus
of the point P(x, y) such that P is equidistant from A and the x-axis
Q.5 A point P(x, y) moves so that the sum of the squares of its
distances from the points A, B and C is 77. Show that the locus is a
circle and find its centre and radius
Distance from a Line
Y = mx + c
Now suppose the equation of the line is
Ax + By + C = 0 , find A and B in terms of m
By = (Ax + C)
Y = (

A
B

)x

C
B

so slope is

m=

A
B

Q.1 Find the slope of the line 2x + 3y + 4 = 0

Q.2 Find the slope of the 2x 3y + 4 = 0
The distance from the point (m, n) to the line Ax + By + C = 0 is given
by

ember, distance is always POSITIVE

Always bring the constant C from

The distance is the perpendicular distance

Q.3 Find the perpendicular distance from the point (5, 6) to the
line 2x + 3y + 4 = 0, using the formula we just found.
Q.4 Find the distance from the point (3,7) to the line y =

6x
5

+2

Q.5 By using the perpendicular distance formula, find the locus of a

point P(x, y) that is equidistant from the lines 3x + 4y = 36 and
4x + 3y = 24.
COMBINING DISTANCE BETWEEN FROM A POINT AND LINE
Q.6 A point P(x, y) moves so that its distance from the point K (2, 5) is
equidistant from the line 2x + 2y = 1. Draw a diagram, and find the
equation of the locus of P.
Q.7 A point P(x, y) moves so that its distance from the point K (2, 5) is
twice its distance from the line 2x + 2y = 1. Draw a diagram, and find
the equation of the locus of P.

Completing the squares

x2 + 12x + 10 = 0
Make sure
that the
coefficient
of x2 is 1

Divide the
coefficient of

 12 /2 = 6
Add and subtract the square of 6 in the equation
x2 + 12x + 10 + 62 62 = 0
x2 + 12x + 36 + 10 36 = 0
(x+6)2 = 26
What if the coefficient of x is negative ??
x2 12x + 10 = 0 , Dont worry, repeat the same steps
x2 12x + 10 + 62 62 = 0
x2 12x + 36 + 10 36 = 0
(x-6)2 = 26

Q.1 Complete the squares of the following

a) x2 17x + 32 = 0
b) 2x2 18x + 48 = 0
Q. 2 Find the equation of the locus of a point that moves so that its
distance from the point A (2, 1) is twice its distance from the point
B(4,5). Complete the square and describe the locus geometrically.

CIRCLE
A
( x,y)
P
(x1 ,y1)

PA = radius = r

Y
1

r=

O(0,0

X1

r =

xx
y y
( 1)2 +( 1)2

xx 1
2
+( y y 1)
2

( xx 1) +( y y 1)

= r2

Q.1 Find the equation of the circle whose radius is 5 units and the
centre is given by P(4,3).
Q.2 Find the locus of all points in the plane that are a fixed distance
(called the radius) from a given point (called the centre) . Given the
centre is at P(4,3) and the radius is 10 units.
Q.3 The distance of the centre of a circle from origin O (0,0) is 5 units
and the centre is given by a point P (3 ,y). Find the y co-ordinate?
If a point A ( 6,7) is on the circle, find the locus of such points ?

Q.4 If the equation of a circle is (x-4) 2 + (y-5)2 = 16 , find the co-ordinates

of the centre P and the radius ?
Q.5 If the equation of a circle is (x+4) 2 + (y-5)2 = 16 , find the coordinates of the centre P and the radius ?
Q.6 If the equation of a circle is (x+4) 2 + (y+5)2 = 162 , find the coordinates of the centre P and the radius ?
P
(x1 ,y1)

x
y
2
( 10) +( 10)2

Distance=

O(0,0

P(x2,y2)

O(x,y

x
y
2
( 2x ) +( 2 y)2

Distance=

CHALLENGE
Q.1 The centre of a given circle is the origin O [0,0]. The x intercept is 5 units. Find
the locus of a point P on the circle ?
Q.2 There are two circles with the same centre O [0,0] but vary in their radius by a
ratio 1:2 . Graphically plot the same. Find the equation of both the circles. Will there
a point which can be simultaneously on both the circles? What will be the ratio of
their x and y intercepts?
Q.3 A giant wheel is in form of a circle and the distance between two persons sitting
exactly opposite is 10m. Assuming the centre of the giant-wheel to be at origin [ 0,0]
hypothetically , find the locus of every other person sitting on
the giant wheel assuming a person co-ordinate to be P(x,y).

PARABOLA
A parabola is the locus of all points equidistant from
a given point (called the focus), and
a given line (called the directrix),
where the directrix does not pass through the focus.
In this orientation, it extends infinitely to the left and right

 NOTE # 1 The distance between Focus [F] and Vertex [V] is same as the
distance between the vertex and the line d which is the directrix.
So , Vertex [V] is the point midway between focus and directrix
The axis of symmetry is the line which passes through FOCUS and
perpendicular to the directrix
The line passing through the FOCUS and parallel to directrix is called the
LATUS RECTUM

The distance between Focus and Vertex is a

The distance between Focus and directrix is 2a
The length of the Latus rectum is 4a
Q.1 Use the definition of the parabola to find the equation of the parabola with focus
2) and directrix which is given by y = 2.
(b) What are the vertex, focal length, and length of the latus rectum?

S(0,

Q.2 Use the definition of the parabola to find the equation of the parabola with focus
-2) and directrix which is given by y 2 =0 .
(b) What are the vertex, focal length, and length of the latus rectum?

Using the Definition of a Parabola to Find its Equation

Important Deduction for Standard Parabolas

If the directrix is y = a , then any point on the directrix is A ( x , a)
If the directrix is x = a , then any point on the directrix is A (a ,y)
If the directrix is y = a , then the focus is F ( 0 , -a)

S(0,

If the directrix is y = a , then the focus is F ( 0 , a)

If the directrix is x = a , then the focus is F ( -a , 0)
If the directrix is x = a , then the focus is F ( a,0)

Since

PM

is

the

perpendicular

distance

from

to

directrix,

the co-ordinates of x remains the same

Q.1 Sketch the parabola x2 = 12y, showing the focus, the directrix, and the
endpoints of the latus rectum.
Q.2 Sketch the parabola x2 = 16y, showing the focus, the directrix, and the
endpoints of the latus rectum.
Q.3 Sketch the parabola y2 = 24x, showing the focus, the directrix, and the
endpoints of the latus rectum.
Q.4 Sketch the parabola y2 = 40x, showing the focus, the directrix, and the
endpoints of the latus rectum.

Q.5 The variable point P(x, y) moves so that it is equidistant from the point S (0, 3)
and the line y + 3 = 0. Draw a diagram, and let L be the point (x,3).
(a) Show that PS2 = x2 + (y 3)2 and PL2 = (y + 3)2 .
(b) By setting PS2 = PL2 , derive the equation of the locus of P.

Translations of the Parabola

Non Standard Parabolas When the vertex of a parabola is not at the origin, the
normal rules for shifting curves around the plane apply
To move the vertex from (0, 0) to (h, k), replace x by x h and y by y k
To move the vertex from (0, 0) to (-h, k), replace x by x + h and y by y k
To move the vertex from (0, 0) to (h, -k), replace x by x h and y by y + k
To move the vertex from (0, 0) to (-h, -k), replace x by x + h and y by y + k

Again, there are two tasks that you need to be able to perform:
First, write down the equation of a parabola, given its geometric description.
Conversely, describe a parabola geometrically, given its equation.
2

(x h) = 4a(y k)
2

(y k) = 4a(x h)

The length of the latus rectum, the distance between the vertex to focus and Vertex
to directrix REMAINS THE SAME
Q.1 Find the focus, directrix, focal length and length latus rectum of the parabola
y = 3 4x x2 .

(y-3)2 = 4 , find the values of y

Q.2 Sketch (y 3)2 = 2x . Find the endpoints of the latus-rectum.