# How can I plot a hyperbola from its complex representation?

How can I plot the hyperbola represented by the following complex equation:

$$\left|z-a\right|-\left|z-b\right|=2t\tag{1}$$

Should I convert (1) into the following form?

ContourPlot[x^2 - y^2 == 1, {x, -2, 2}, {y, -2, 2}]


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You can start from ComplexExpand[Abs[x + I y - a] - Abs[x + I y - b], TargetFunctions -> {Re, Im}], which doe not give an hyperbola though. –  b.gatessucks Jul 21 '13 at 8:59
Are you sure the complex expression above is a hyperbola? What do the $a, b, t$ stand for? Assuming that the $a$ and $b$ are the same as in $\frac{x^2}{a^2} - \frac{y^2}{b^2} = 1$, then that is not a hyperbola. For instance, what happens when $a=b$? –  rm -rf Jul 21 '13 at 16:36
You can the function defined here: Coloring a shape according to a function, e.g. ParametricPlot[cc[u, 3/2], {u, 0, 2 Pi}, Axes -> False, PlotStyle -> Thick, ColorFunction -> Function[{x, y, u}, Hue[u/(2 Pi)]], ColorFunctionScaling -> False, Exclusions -> {Cos[u] == 2/3, Cos[u] == -2/3}] –  Artes Jul 21 '13 at 18:21

Since you're trying to plot an implicit equation, you would normally use ContourPlot. For example, to get two branches satisfying the equation for $t = 1$, just do this:
With[{a = 2, b = 1},