# Math Help - Locus question #1

1. ## Locus question #1

My question is:

Find the equation of the locus of a point P(x,y) that moves so that it is equidistant from the x-axis and the y-axis, please tell me step by step all the working out please

2. Originally Posted by moeyfrompunchy
My question is:

Find the equation of the locus of a point P(x,y) that moves so that it is equidistant from the x-axis and the y-axis, please tell me step by step all the working out please
In order for point P to be equidistant from the x and y-axis, it has to move along the line y=x.

3. Hello, moeyfrompunchy!

Did you even bother to make a sketch?

Find the equation of the locus of a point $P(x,y)$
that moves so that it is equidistant from the $x$-axis and the $y$-axis.
Code:
      |         P
B + - - - - *(x,y)
|    x    :
|         :
|         : y
|         :
|         :
----+---------+----
|         A
|

The point is $P(x,y).$

Its distance from the $x$-axis is: . $PA = y.$

Its distance from the $y$-axis is: . $PB = x.$

We want these distances to be equal: . $y \:=\:x$

How hard was that?

4. Originally Posted by moeyfrompunchy
My question is:

Find the equation of the locus of a point P(x,y) that moves so that it is equidistant from the x-axis and the y-axis, please tell me step by step all the working out please
1. If the point P has equal distances from the axes then you have:

$|y| = |x|$

2. If you write this equation without the absolute values you'll get as the locus l:

$l: y = x~\vee~y = -x$