# Locus of points generates several very different curves. Closed form?

Consider, for the sake of simplicity, a circle $C$ centered at he origin with radius $a$. Let $F=(h,k)$ be a point not necessarily inside the circle. Let $M=(a\cos\theta,a\sin\theta)$ be a point in the circle, and $L$ the line that pases through $M$ and $F$. Let $L_1$ be the line passing through the midpoint of $MO$ where $O$ is the origin, perpendicular to $MO$. Then the curve sought is the locus of points of the point of intersection of $L$ and $L_1$.

You can check that these two lines can be written as

$$y = - \frac{1}{{\tan (t)}}\left( {x - \frac{{a\cos \left( t \right)}}{2}} \right) + \frac{{a{\text{ }}\sin (t)}}{2}{\text{ }}$$

and

$$y = \frac{{a\sin (t) - k}}{{a\cos (t) - h}}{\text{ }}(x - h){\text{ }} + k$$

This, what we want to is express $x$ and $y$ in terms of $t$ and the curve will be $(x(t),y(t))$. Now, although the plotting soft produces the right curves, I have failed $4$ times already to solve for $x$ and $y$. I am getting

$$x(t) = \frac{{2a\cot t\cos t + 2a\sin t + {\text{2}}f\left( t \right)h - 2k}}{{{\text{ 2}}f\left( t \right) + 2\cot t }}{\text{ }}$$

and

$$y(t)=f(t)(x(t)-h)+k$$

where $${\text{ }}\frac{{a\sin (t) - k}}{{a\cos (t) - h}} = f\left( t \right)$$

but this fails to give the correct parametrization.

Could you help to find a closed expression in terms of $t$ and verify it is correct?

These are pics of the curves generated. If the focus is inside the cirlce of radius $a/2$ we get a deformed circle, if it is in the half outside, we get a closed intersecting curve, if it is exaclty on the circle we get the Foluim of Descartes/Trisectrix of Maclaurin, if it is right in the origin, another circle, if it is exactly halfway, a cardioid, and if it is outside the circle, a distorted Foluim of Descartes/Trisectrix of Maclaurin with a part of an hiperbola.

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Using Maple, $x = (1/2)*(1600*sin(t)*h+4*a*cos(t)^2*h-2*a^2*cos(t)^3-3*a*h+a^2*cos(t))/(800*sin(t)‌​+h*cos(t)-a)$, $y = -(1/2)*(-2*a*sin(t)*h*cos(t)-a^2*sin(t)+2*a^2*sin(t)*cos(t)^2+800*a+1600*h*cos(t‌​)-1600*a*cos(t)^2)/(800*sin(t)+h*cos(t)-a)$ –  i. m. soloveichik Sep 28 '12 at 1:35
@i.m.soloveichik Where is $k$? –  Pedro Tamaroff Sep 28 '12 at 1:53

By scaling and rotation, we can assume the radius of the circle is $1$ and that $F=(f,0)$. The situation described above is diagrammed below. $P$ is the intersection of $L$ and $L_1$, $B$ is the midpoint of $\overline{OA}$, and $A$ is the point on $\overline{OM}$ so that $\overline{FA}\perp\overline{OA}$. By assumption, $|\overline{OM}|=1$, and by definition, let $f=|\overline{OF}|$.

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Note that $\angle AMF=\angle BMP$ since they are vertical angles. Since $\triangle AMF$ and $\triangle BMP$ are right triangles that share an acute angle, they are similar. Therefore, $$(P-M)|\overline{MA}|=(M-F)|\overline{MB}|\tag{1}$$ Combining $(1)$ with $|\overline{MA}|=f\cos(\theta)-1$ and $|\overline{MB}|=\frac12$ yields $$P=\frac{\left(f\cos(\theta)-\frac12\right)M-\frac12F}{f\cos(\theta)-1}\tag{2}$$ Using $(2)$ with $M=(\cos(\theta),\sin(\theta))$ and $F=(f,0)$ gives $$P=\frac{\frac12\left(f\cos(2\theta)-\cos(\theta),f\sin(2\theta)-\sin(\theta)\right)}{f\cos(\theta)-1}\tag{3}$$

Animation

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From Maple,

$$x =\frac{a}{2} \frac{2k\sin(t)\cos(t)-h+2h\cos(t)^2-a\cos(t)}{(\sin(t)k+h\cos(t)-a)}$$

$$y =\frac{a}{2} \frac{2h\sin(t)\cos(t)-a\sin(t)-2k\cos(t)^2+k}{(\sin(t)k+h\cos(t)-a)}$$

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Is the edit OK? Because that doesn't parametrize my curves. –  Pedro Tamaroff Sep 28 '12 at 2:59
@PeterTamaroff The solution is based on your equations for the lines. –  i. m. soloveichik Sep 28 '12 at 3:12
@PeterTamaroff Made some sign changes that simplified the answer. –  i. m. soloveichik Sep 28 '12 at 3:22