Calculation of Circle Centre-Point and Radius from Three Points on Circle Circumference

x3 y3

x2 y2

Known variables:
Coordinates of 3 points on circle circumference:

r
yc

and

Unknown variables:
centre-point of circle

x1 y1

radius of circle

xc
(i) Initial Equations:

(iii) Equate the

Cancel out

Re-arrange so

(ii) Expand initial equations:

of the 1st and 2nd expanded equations and re-arrange so

and

from each side:

is on one side:

(iv) Similarly, equate the

(v) Equate the

is alone:

of the 1st and 3rd expanded equations and re-arrange so

from equations (iii) and (iv) and re-arrange so

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is alone:

is alone:

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Cancel out the 2s in the denominators on each side:

Cross-multiply each side:

Re-arrange so

is on one side:

(vi) Repeat steps (iii), (iv) and (v) but getting

(vii) Calculate

alone first and

alone last to get:

(any of these three equations can be used):

Notes:
The equations in steps (v) and (vi) for

and

share common factors:

Therefore the final equations in steps (v) and (vi) can be simplified:

If the three points are on the same line then

because there is no circle (it has infinite radius).

If two or more of the three points are the same, then

and/or
and there wont be a
solution because three different points are required to calculate a circles centre-point and radius.

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