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Loci in The Argand Diagram LESSON

The document discusses loci in the Argand diagram. It defines three main loci - circles, perpendicular bisectors, and half-lines. Circles are represented by equations of the form |z - z1| = r, with z1 as the center and r as the radius. Perpendicular bisectors are represented by equations of the form |z - z1| = |z - z2|, dividing the line between z1 and z2 evenly. Half-lines are represented by equations of the form arg(z - z1) = θ, with z1 as the starting point and θ as the angle from the positive real axis. Examples are provided to illustrate each type of loci.

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Misum Ali
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112 views3 pages

Loci in The Argand Diagram LESSON

The document discusses loci in the Argand diagram. It defines three main loci - circles, perpendicular bisectors, and half-lines. Circles are represented by equations of the form |z - z1| = r, with z1 as the center and r as the radius. Perpendicular bisectors are represented by equations of the form |z - z1| = |z - z2|, dividing the line between z1 and z2 evenly. Half-lines are represented by equations of the form arg(z - z1) = θ, with z1 as the starting point and θ as the angle from the positive real axis. Examples are provided to illustrate each type of loci.

Uploaded by

Misum Ali
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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www.mathspanda.

com

Loci in the Argand Diagram

Starter
1. (Review of last lesson) Convert 1 − i to [r,  θ ] form.

π
2. (Review of last lesson) Express the complex number 6 cis  in Cartesian form.
3

3. Let z1 = 5 + 4i and let z2 = 1 − i.


(a) Find | z1 − z2 | .
(b) State what | z1 − z2 | represents geometrically.

Notes
The topic of loci (pronounced “low-sigh”) was studied at GCSE — it can also be used on the
Argand diagram.

There are three main loci: circles, perpendicular bisectors and half-lines.

Distance between points


| z1 − z2 | represents the distance between z1 and z2.
E.g. 1 (a) Put the equation | z | = 2 into words.
(b) Hence describe the loci of all points such that | z | = 2.

Circles
In words, | z − z1 | = r is “the distance between z and the complex number z1 is r”.
| z | = r is the circle, centre origin, radius r.
| z − z1 | = r is the circle, centre z1, radius r

E.g. 2 (a) Put the equation | z − (4 + 3i) | = 5 into words.


(b) Hence, on an Argand diagram, draw all the points such that | z − (4 + 3i) | = 5.

Perpendicular bisectors
In words, | z − z1 | = | z − z2 | is “the distance between z and the complex number z1 is equal to
the distance between z and the complex number z2.

| z − z1 | = | z − z2 | is the perpendicular bisector of the line segment joining z1 and z2.

E.g. 3 (a) Put the equation | z − 3 | = | z − 5 | into words.


(b) Hence, on an Argand diagram, draw all the points such that |z − 3| = |z − 5|.

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Half-lines Im
Arg (z − z1) = θ is the half-line starting at z1 which makes an angle of θ
with the real axis.
θ
z1
Usually the point z1 is not included in the half-line — hence the circle. Re
If z1 was included in the half-line, the circle would be coloured in.

π
E.g. 4 Describe all the points such that arg arg (z − (5 + 2i)) = .
3

E.g. 5 When would the point z1 be included in the half-line?

Summary
• | z1 − z2 | represents the distance between z1 and z2.
• | z − z1 | = r is the circle, centre z1, radius r
• | z − z1 | = | z − z2 | is the perpendicular bisector of the line segment joining z1 and z2.
• arg (z − z1) = θ is the half-line starting at z1 which makes an angle of θ with the real axis

N.B. For half-lines, z1 is not included in the line (circle) unless arg z1 =θ

E.g. 6 Describe all the points such that:


π
(a) | z − 3 + 2i | = 9 (b) arg (z − (1 + 2i)) =
π 6
(c) z − (4 + 3i) = z + 6 − 2i (d) arg (z − 1 − i) =
4

E.g. 7 Use an Argand diagram to find, in the form a


+ bi, the complex number(s) which satisfies
π 3π
(a) arg (z + 1) = and arg (z − 3) =
π 4 4
(b) arg z = and | z | = 2.
6
N.B. The gradient of a straight line is equal to tan θ, where θ is the angle the line makes
with the positive x− axis.
Hint: draw an Argand diagram.
π π
Working: (a) arg (z + 1) = is the half-line starting at −1 + 0i at an angle of
4 4
(45o) — this is equivalent to the line y = x + 1 for x > − 1
3π
arg (z − 3) = is the half-line starting at 3 + 0i at an angle of
4
3π
(135o) — this is equivalent to the line y = 3 − x for x < 3
4
Hence find the point of intersection of y = x + 1 and y = 3 − x
The point is (1, 2) so z = 1 + 2i

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π π
E.g. 8 If arg z = and arg (z − 3) = , find arg (z − 6i).
4 2
Hint: use an Argand diagram.

Video: Loci of a circle


Video: Loci of perpendicular bisectors
Video: Loci of half-lines
Video: Representing regions in Argand diagrams

Solutions to Starter and E.g.s

Exercise
p133 4F Qu 1i, 2i, 3i, 4i, 5-11

Summary
• | z1 − z2 | represents the distance between z1 and z2.
• | z − z1 | = r is the circle, centre z1, radius r
• | z − z1 | = | z − z2 | is the perpendicular bisector of the line segment joining z1 and z2.
• arg (z − z1) = θ is the half-line starting at z1 which makes an angle of θ with the real axis

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