In the presence of a point F and a straight line d, ellipse can be characterized is the locus of points P whose distances to F and d are in a fixed ratio less than 1: dist(P, F) / dist(P, d) = const < 1. The point is called a focus and the line a directrix of the ellipse. This property is often taken for a definition of ellipse. For every ellipse there are two focus/directrix combinations. The line joining the foci is the axis of summetry of the ellipse and is perpendicular to both foci.