JAMB Mathematics questions: Loci

19 questions with answers and explanations. Tap an option to check yourself.

1. Question 1· Loci· JAMB

   A goat is tied to a post by a rope 4 m long. The region it can graze is

   • Aa semicircle of radius 2 m
   • Ba square of side 4 m
   • Ca straight line 4 m long
   • Da circle of radius 4 m centred at the post

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   Explanation and discussion

2. Question 2· Loci· JAMB

   The locus of points equidistant from two parallel lines is

   • Aa line parallel to them, midway between them
   • Ba circle
   • Ca line perpendicular to them
   • Da single point

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   Explanation and discussion

3. Question 3· Loci· JAMB

   A circle of radius r rolls round the outside of a fixed circle of radius R. The locus of the centre of the rolling circle is

   • Aa circle of radius r
   • Ba circle of radius R − r
   • Ca straight line
   • Da circle of radius R + r with the same centre as the fixed circle

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   Explanation and discussion

4. Question 4· Loci· JAMB

   The locus of points at a fixed distance d from a straight line is

   • Athe line itself
   • Ba circle of radius d
   • Ca single line perpendicular to it
   • Da pair of lines parallel to it, each at distance d

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5. Question 5· Loci· JAMB

   A and B are fixed points, and P moves so that angle APB is always 90°. The locus of P is

   • Aa line parallel to AB
   • Bthe perpendicular bisector of AB
   • Ca circle with AB as diameter
   • Da circle with centre A

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6. Question 6· Loci· JAMB

   The locus of points equidistant from A(0, 0) and B(4, 0) is the line

   • Ay = 2
   • Bx = 2
   • Cx = 4
   • Dy = x

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7. Question 7· Loci· JAMB

   The locus of points less than 5 cm from a fixed point P is

   • Athe region inside a circle of radius 5 cm centred at P
   • Ba circle of radius 5 cm only
   • Cthe region outside the circle
   • Da straight line through P

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8. Question 8· Loci· JAMB

   The locus of points equidistant from the parallel lines y = 2 and y = 6 is the line

   • Ay = 8
   • By = 4
   • Cx = 4
   • Dy = 3

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9. Question 9· Loci· JAMB

   The locus of points 3 cm from a fixed point O is

   • Atwo parallel lines
   • Ba straight line through O
   • Ca square with centre O
   • Da circle with centre O and radius 3 cm

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10. Question 10· Loci· JAMB

    A point moves so that it is always 3 units from the x-axis. Its locus is

    • Aa circle of radius 3
    • Bthe line y = 3 only
    • Cthe line x = 3
    • Dthe pair of lines y = 3 and y = −3

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11. Question 11· Loci· JAMB

    The locus of points equidistant from two intersecting straight lines is

    • Aa circle through the point of intersection
    • Bthe pair of lines bisecting the angles between them
    • Ca line parallel to one of them
    • Dthe perpendicular from one line to the other

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12. Question 12· Loci· JAMB

    The locus of points equidistant from three points that are not in a straight line is

    • Aa single point
    • Ba straight line
    • Ca circle
    • Dtwo parallel lines

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13. Question 13· Loci· JAMB

    The locus of points equidistant from the x-axis and the y-axis is

    • Athe line y = x only
    • Bthe pair of lines y = x and y = −x
    • Cthe x-axis
    • Da circle

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14. Question 14· Loci· JAMB

    The locus of points equidistant from two fixed points A and B is

    • Aa circle with AB as diameter
    • Bthe perpendicular bisector of AB
    • Ca line parallel to AB
    • Dthe line AB

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15. Question 15· Loci· JAMB

    The locus of points equidistant from the two arms of an angle is

    • Athe bisector of the angle
    • Ba circle
    • Ca line parallel to one arm
    • Da perpendicular to one arm

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16. Question 16· Loci· JAMB

    The point inside a triangle that is equidistant from all three sides lies on

    • Athe altitudes
    • Bthe perpendicular bisectors of the sides
    • Cthe medians
    • Dthe bisectors of the angles of the triangle

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17. Question 17· Loci· JAMB

    A wheel rolls along a straight horizontal road. The locus of the centre of the wheel is

    • Aa circle
    • Ba straight line parallel to the road
    • Ca curve touching the road
    • Da single point

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18. Question 18· Loci· JAMB

    A point moves so that it is always 5 units from the origin. The equation of its locus is

    • Ay = 5x
    • Bx + y = 5
    • Cx² + y² = 5
    • Dx² + y² = 25

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19. Question 19· Loci· JAMB

    The path traced by the tip of the minute hand of a clock is

    • Aa square
    • Ba straight line
    • Ca circle
    • Da spiral

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    Explanation and discussion