Consider the vector from
to some point in the first quadrant so that the angle between the vector and the real axis in the positive direction is
, an acute angle. This is the vector
and points in the direction
.
Consider also the vector from
to some point in the first quadrant so that the angle between the vector and the real axis in the positive direction is
, an acute angle. This is the vector
and
.
We now seek the locus where
, and this angle is formed where the two vectors meet.
- The locus is a semi-circle if , in which case ) and define the end points of the diameter.
- It is a minor arc when
- It is a major arc when
- In any of these cases, the two points and define a chord of the circle.
- Note that, in each case, the points and are excluded from the locus as each produces an argument of the complex number 0, which is undefined.
The loci are parts of a circle as, if
is a point on the locus, the
is fixed because angles standing on the same chord or arc must all be equal.