Questions: Choose the best answer.
A is the locus of points in a plane that are equidistant from a line and a point not on the line.
parabola
directrix
vertex
focus
Transcript text: 1. Choose the best answer.
A $\qquad$ is the locus of points in a plane that are equidistant from a line and a point not on the line.
parabola
directrix
vertex
focus
Solution
Solution Steps
To solve this problem, we need to identify the geometric definition that matches the description given. The description provided is a classic definition of a parabola, which is the set of all points in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed point (focus) and a fixed line (directrix).
Step 1: Identify the Definitions
We need to analyze the definitions of the given options:
A parabola is defined as the locus of points in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed point (focus) and a fixed line (directrix).
A directrix is a fixed line used in the definition of a parabola.
A vertex is the point where the parabola changes direction.
A focus is a fixed point used in the definition of a parabola.
Step 2: Match the Description
The question states that we are looking for the locus of points that are equidistant from a line and a point not on the line. This matches the definition of a parabola.
Step 3: Conclusion
Based on the definitions and the description provided, the correct answer is clearly identified as a parabola.