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The standard form of a circle


The standard equation with center at (h,k) and a radius of r units is (x-h)
+(y-k)= r .The values oh h and k indicate that the circle is translated h
units horizontally and k units vertically from the origin.
If the center of the circle is at the origin, the equation of the circle is
x+y=r.

Example 1: The equation of a circle with center at (2,7)and a radius of


6units is (x-2)+(y-7)=36
Example 2: The equation of a circle with center at (-5,3)and a radius of
12 units is (x+5)+(y-3)=144

The general equation of a


circle
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The general equation of a circle is x+y+Dx+Ey+f=0, where D,E and F are


real numbers. This equation is obtained by expanding the standard
equation of a circle, (x-h)+(y-k)=r

(x-h)+(y-k)=r (x-2hx+h) + (y-2ky+k)=r


x-2hx+h + y-2ky+k=r
IF D=-2h, E=-2k, and F=h+k-r,
x+y-2hx-2ky+h+k=r
the equation x+y-2hx-
x+y-2hx-2ky+h-r=0
2ky+h+k+r=0 becomes
x+y+Dx+Ey+F=0

Example:
Write the general equation of a circle with center C(4,-1) and a radius of
7 units. Then determine the values of D, E AND F

(x-h) + (y-k)=r (x-4) + (y+1)=7


SIMPLIFY (X-4) + (Y+1)=7
(x-4) + (y+1)=7 (x-8x+16) + (y+2y+1)=49
x-8x+16 + y+2y+1=49
x+y-8x+2y+17=49
x+y-8x+2y+17-49=0
x+y-8x+2y-32=0
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ANSWER: x+y-8x+2y-32=0 is the general equation of the circle with


center C(4,-1) and radius of 7 units. In the equation, D=-8, E=2, and F=-
32

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