The Circle

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
y
x
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
8
9
9
10
10
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
8
9
9
10
10
(x
1
, y
1
)
(x
2
, y
2
)
2 2
2 1 2 1
Distance between 2 points = ( ) ( ) x x y y +
y
x
3
3
6
6
9
9
3
3
6
6
9
9
3
3
6
6
9
9
3
3
6
6
9
9
If we rotate this line we will
get a circle whose radius is the
length of the line
y
x
3
3
6
6
9
9
3
3
6
6
9
9
3
3
6
6
9
9
3
3
6
6
9
9
2 2
The radius has length x y +
Hence the equation of a circle, centre the origin is
2 2 2
x y r + =
a) Write down the equation of a circle centre the origin with radius 3 2
2 2 2
x y r + =
2 2 2
(3 2) x y + =
2 2
18 x y + =
b) Show that the point A(3,4) lies on the circle x
2
+ y
2
= 25

When x = 3 and y = 4,
x
2
+ y
2
= 3
2
+ 4
2
= 25

Since the point (3,4) satisfies the equation it must lie on the circle.
c) check that the point B(3,3) lies inside the circle and that C(3,5)
lies outside the circle with equation x
2
+ y
2
= 25
When x = 3 and y = 3, x
2
+ y
2
= 3
2
+ 3
2
= 18

As 18 < 25, (3,3) must lie inside the circle.
When x = 3 and y = 5, x
2
+ y
2
= 3
2
+ 5
2
= 34

As 34 > 25, (3,5) must lie outside the circle.
Circles with other Centres
y
x
3
3
6
6
9
9
3
3
6
6
9
9
3
3
6
6
9
9
3
3
6
6
9
9
(a , b)
Here the centre has moved from
(0,0) to (a,b).
The equation of a circle centre (a,b)
Radius r is (x-a)
2
+ (y-b)
2
= r
2
(x - a)
2
+ (y - b)
2
= r
2
(x - 1)
2
+ (y - (-2))
2
= (4\3)
2
(x - 1)
2
+ (y + 2)
2
= (4 \ 3) (4 \ 3)
(x - 1)
2
+ (y + 2)
2
= 48
a) Write down the equation of a circle centre (1,-2) with radius 4 3
Or in expanded form...
(x - 1)(x - 1) + (y + 2)(y + 2)

= 48
x
2
- 2x + 1 + y
2
+ 4y + 4

= 48
x
2
+ y
2
- 2x + 4y

- 43 = 0
b) P(2,-2) and Q(8,6) are points on a circle such that PQ is a
diameter.
Find i) The coordinates of the centre
ii) Its radius
iii) Its equation
(i) Centre is mid point of diameter
Mid point of PQ is
2 8 2 6
,
2 2
+ +
| |
|
\ .
10 4
,
2 2
| |
=
|
\ .
( )
5, 2 C
(ii) Distance from (5,2) to (8,6)
2 2
(8 5) (6 2) = +
9 16 = +
= 5 units
(iii) Centre (5,2) radius 5 units
2 2
Equation of the circle is ( 5) ( 2) 25 x y + =
The General Equation of a Circle
2 2
2 2 0 x y gx fy c + + + + =
This is the general equation of a circle centre (-g, -f) and radius
2 2
r g f c = +
Example
Find the radius and centre of the circle with equation
x
2
+ y
2
+ 6x - 8y + 24 = 0
Equating with x
2
+ y
2
+ 2gx + 2fy + c = 0


It follows that g = 3, f = -4 and c = 24
Centre = (-g,-f)
( 3, 4)
2 2
3 4 24 radius = +
9 16 24 = + 1 =
Intersection of a Line and a Circle
A circle and a line can have
2 points of intersection
1 point of intersection
No points of intersection
Example Find the point(s) of intersection of the line 5y - x + 7 = 0 and
the circle with equation x
2
+ y
2
+ 2x - 2y - 11 = 0
i) Rearrange 5y - x + 7 = 0 into form x = or y =... So that we can
substitute it into the equation of the circle.
x = 5y + 7. Now substitute this into the circle equation.
( 5y + 7 )
2
+ y
2
+ 2( 5y + 7 ) - 2y - 11 = 0
25y
2
+70y+ 49 + y
2
+ 10y + 14 - 2y - 11 = 0
26y
2
+78y + 52 = 0
26(y
2
+3y + 2) = 0
(y
2
+3y + 2) = 0
(y + 1)(y + 2) = 0
y = -1 or y = -2
Since x = 5y + 7, when y = -1 x = 2
when y = -2 x = -3
Points of contact (2, -1) and (-3, -2)


Tangents to Circles
When a line meets a
circle at one point
only, then the line is a
tangent to the circle.
a) Prove that the line x - 7y - 50 = 0 is a tangent to the circle with
equation x
2
+ y
2
= 50
There are two methods we can use to answer this question.
(i) Solve the equation as before and show 1 point of contact
(ii) Use the discriminant to show tangency using the resulting
equation after substitution.
a) Prove that the line x - 7y - 50 = 0 is a tangent to the circle with
equation x
2
+ y
2
= 50
Method 1.
7 50 x y = +
Substituting gives:
2 2
(7 50) 50 0 y y + + =
2
50 700 2450 0 y y + + =
2
14 49 0 y y + + =
2
( 7) 0 y + =
7 y =
Since only one value for y

is produced then x - 7y - 50 = 0 is a tangent
b
2
- 4ac = 14
2
- (4 1 49) Method 2.
= 0
Since b
2
- 4ac = 0 then there is only one point of contact so
x - 7y - 50 = 0 is a tangent to the circle.
Equations of Tangents
The equation of a tangent at a point on a
circle can be found from the point of contact
Using m
tan
m
radius
= -1
a) Find the equation of the tangent from the point (0,3) to the
circle with equation x
2
+ y
2
- 8

x -2 y -

3 = 0
The equation of the tangent must be
3 y mx = +
Substituting into the circle equation gives:
x
2
+(mx + 3)
2
- 8

x -2(mx + 3) -

3 = 0
x
2
+ m
2
x
2
+ 6mx + 9 - 8

x - 2mx - 6 -

3 = 0
x
2
+ m
2
x
2
+ 4mx - 8

x = 0
x
2
(1+ m
2
) + x (4m - 8

) = 0
For tangency b
2
- 4ac = 0 (4m - 8

)
2
- 4 (1+ m
2
) 0 = 0
16m
2
- 64m + 64

= 0
16(m
2
- 4m + 4)

= 0
16(m
2
- 4m + 4)

= 0
16(m - 2)(m - 2)

= 0
(m - 2)(m - 2)

= 0
m = 2
The equation of the tangent is y = mx + 3
2 3 y x = +
b) Show that A (8,3) lies on the circle x
2
+ y
2
- 8

x -2 y -

3 = 0 and
hence find the equation of the tangent at A.
Centre of the circle = (4,1)
3 1
8 4
rad
m

=

1
2
=
Equation of the tangent =
3 2( 8) y x =
2 19 y x = +
When x = 8 and y = 3, x
2
+ y
2
- 8

x -2 y -

3 = 8
2
+ 3
2
64-6-3 = 0
Hence (8,3) lies on the circle.
Gradient of Tangent = -2