JAMB - Mathematics (2001 - No. 22)

Find the locus of a point which moves such that its distance from the line y = 4 is a constant, k.
y = 4 \(\pm\) k
y = k \(\pm\) 4
y = 4 + k
y = k - 4

Explanation

The line y = 4 is a horizontal line in the Cartesian plane. The distance from any point( x, y) to this line is given by d = | y - 4| and this distance to be equal to k

| y - 4 | = k

case1, y - 4 = k, y = k + 4 ⇒ 4 + k 

case2, y - 4 = - k, y = - k + 4 ⇒ 4 - k 

combining the two solutions above, we have y = 4 \(\pm\) k 

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