Page:The Elements of Euclid for the Use of Schools and Colleges - 1872.djvu/353

Rh from a given point is the surface of the sphere described from the given point as centre, with the given distance as radius; for all the points on this surface, and no other points, are at the given distance from the given point. If we restrict ourselves to all the points in a fixed plane which are at a given distance from a given point, the locus is the circumference of the circle described from the given point as centre, with the given distance as radius. In future we shall restrict ourselves to loci which are situated in a fixed plane, and which are properly called plane loci.

Several of the propositions in Euclid furnish good examples of loci. Thus the locus of the vertices of all triangles which are on the same base and on the same side of it, and which have the same area, is a straight line parallel to the base; this is shewn in I. 37 and I. 39.

Again, the locus of the vertices of all triangles which are on the same base and on the same side of it, and which have the same vertical angle, is a segment of a circle described on the base; for it is shewn in III. 21, that all the points thus determined satisfy the assigned conditions, and it is easily shewn that no other points do.

We will now give some examples. In each example we ought to shew not only that all the points which we indicate as the locus do fulfil the assigned conditions, but that no other points do. This second part however we leave to the student in all the examples except the last two; in these, which are more difficult, we have given the complete investigation.

48. Required the locus of points which are equidistant from two given points.

Let A and B be the two given points; join AB; and draw a straight line through the middle point of AB at right angles to AB; then it may be easily shewn that this straight line is the required locus.

49. Required the locus of the vertices of all triangles on a given base AB, such that the square on the side terminated at A may exceed the square on the side terminated at B, by a given square.

Suppose C to denote a point on the required locus; from C draw a perpendicular on the given base, meeting it,