Complex locus of a circle

Yue Kwok Choy

(1) It is easy to show that |z – z1| = a , where z1C, aR form a circle with centre P1(z1) and
radius a , using an Argand Diagram.

(2) By putting z = x + yi and z 1 = x1 + y1i , we can transform the equation to well known Cartesian form
: (x – x1)2 + (y – y1)2 = a2 . The equation, in fact, is a circle with centre (x 1, y1) and radius a in the
rectangular plane.

(3) Squaring the equation of circle in (1), we get

2 2 2
|z – z1|2 = a2  ( z−z 1 )( z−z 1 )=a ⇒ ( z−z 1 )( z−z 1 ) =a ⇒ z z−z 1 z−z 1 z + z 1 z 1 =a

We get another form of circle:

z z−z 1 z−z 1 z+c=0 , aC, cR .

2 2
Here
a =|z 1| −c>0 in order not to get an imaginary or degenerate circle .

(4) Putting z = x + yi, z1 = x1 + y1i in (3) gives back the Cartesian form of the circle.

(5) Putting z = r(cos  + i sin ) , z1 = (cos  + i sin ) , ( ,  are constants) in (3) :

2
z z−z 1 z−z 1 z +c=0 ⇒ r −rρ [ cos ( α−θ ) +isin ( α−θ ) ] −rρ [ cos ( θ−α ) +i sin ( θ−α ) ] +c=0

we get the polar form of a circle :

2
r −rρ cos ( θ−α ) +c=0 , with centre = (, ) and radius = √ ρ2−c .

P(
z−z 1 z)
arg =α
(6) z−z 2 , 0 <  <  gives an arc and not a circle.
Arg(z
-z1)
As in the figure, the locus gives an arc of the circle standing P1(
z1)
on the chord with end points z1 and z2 such that
Arg(z-
P1PP2 =  is subtended by the chord at points on the arc, z2)
P2(
using the s in the same segment theorem. z2)

(7) Putting z = x + yi , z1 = x1 + y1i , z2 = x2 + y2i in (6), we have :

( x− x 1 ) + ( y− y 1 ) i
arg = α ⇒arg [ ( x−x 1 ) + ( y− y 1 ) i ] −arg [ ( x− x 2 ) + ( y− y 2 ) i ] =α
( x− x 2 ) + ( y− y 2 ) i

1
 **
y− y 1 y − y2 y− y 1 y− y 2
⇒ tan −1
[ ]
x−x 1
−tan −1
[ ]
x−x 2
=α ⇒ tan {tan −1
[ ]
x−x 1
−tan −1
[ ]}
x−x 2
=tan α

y− y1 y − y 2
−
x−x 1 x−x 2
⇒ =tan α
y − y 1 y− y 2
1+
x−x 1 x−x 2
⇒ ( x− x 2 ) ( y− y 1 )−( x−x 1 ) ( y − y 2 ) =( tan α ) [ ( x− x 1 ) ( x−x 2 ) + ( y− y 1 ) ( y− y 2 ) ]

(8) The last equation in (7) is a homogenous equation of degree 2 , also

(a) coeff. of x2 –term = coeff. of y2 term and
(b) there is no xy-term,
It therefore gives a complete circle and not an arc.
**

The "problematic" step in (7) marked by " ⇒ " changes the arc into a circle .

(9) The locus of P in (7) represents :

(a) when  = 0 , the whole line P1P2 with the line segment P1P2 removed.
(b) when  =  , the line segment P1P2 .
(c) when 0 <  < , an arc of a circle, terminating at P1 and P2 (and excluding these points)
(d) when  = /2 , a semicircle and the supplementary semicircle is given by  = 3/2 .

z−z 1
arg =α
(10) z−z 2 or  +  , 0 <  <  gives a complete circle with P1 and P2 removed.

You may investigate the following loci :

z−z 1
arg =α
(a) z−z 2 or  –  , 0 <  <  .

z−z 1
arg =±α
(b) z−z 2 , 0<<.

z−z 1
| |=k
(11) z−z 2 where z1 , z2 C, k > 0 , k  1 gives a circle (excluding points P1(z1), P2(z2) )

Note : When k = 1, the locus is the perpendicular bisector of the line joining P1(z1) and P2(z2) .

Proof :
|z−z 1|2=k 2|z−z 2|2 ⇒ ( z−z 1 )( z−z 1 ) =k 2 ( z− z2 )( z−z 2 ) ⇒ ( z−z 1 )( z−z 1 )=k 2 ( z−z 2 )( z−z 2 )

2
 ⇒ z z−z 1 z −z1 z +|z 1|2=k 2 ( z z−z 2 z−z 2 z+|z 2|2 )

⇒ ( 1−k 2 ) z z−( z 1 −k 2 z 2 ) z−( z 1 −k 2 z 2 ) z+|z1|2 −k 2|z 2|2 =0

z 1−k 2 z 2 z 1 −k 2 z 2 |z 1|2 −k 2|z 2|2

⇒ z z− ( 1−k 2 ) (
z−
1−k 2 ) z+
1−k 2
=0

z 1−k 2 z 2 z 1 −k 2 z 2 |z 1|2 −k 2|z 2|2

⇒ z z− ( 1−k 2 ) (
z−
1−k 2 ) z+
1−k 2
=0

z 1 −k 2 z 2
Comparing this with that given in (3), we get a circle with centre 1−k 2 and radius a, where
2 2 2 2 2
z 1−k z 2 |z 1| −k |z 2| z 1 −z 2
a2 =| 2
| − 2
⇒ a=k| 2
|
1−k 1−k 1−k on simplification (exercise)

z−z 1
| |=k ⇒|z−z 1|=k|z−z 2|
(12) z−z 2 and if we take P(z) a variable point and P1(z1) and P2(z2) ,

we have P1P = k P2P . This then reduces to a well-known geometry problem :

The Circle of Apollonius: Given two fixed points P1 and P2, the locus of point P such that the ratio
of P1P to P2P is constant , k, is a circle.

The Circle of Apollonius is not discussed here. Interested readers may consult web-sites such as:
http://jwilson.coe.uga.edu/emt725/Apollonius/Cir.html

If we know that the locus is a circle, then finding the centre and radius is easier.
As in the diagram, C is the centre and AB is the diameter of the circle.

Then A and B divide P1P2 internally and externally : P(z)

P1 A : AP2 = k : 1
P1 B : BP2 = –k : 1 |z-z1| B

|z-z2| C
 By section formula: P2(z2)
z 1 + kz 2 A

A represents 1+k P1(z1)

z 1 −kz 2
B represents 1−k

3
 2
1 z 1 +kz 2 z 1 −kz 2 z −k z 2
 The centre of the circle represents
(
2 1+ k
+
1−k ) = 1
1−k 2

2
z +kz 2 z1 −k z 2 z −z
|CA|=| 1 − 2
|=k| 1 22 |
and the radius = 1+k 1−k 1−k .