ANALYTICAL GEOMETRY GRADE 12

CIRCLES

DEFINITION OF A CIRCLE: The set of all points equidistant from a fixed point is called a circle.

THE EQUATION OF A CIRCLE WITH CENTRE THE ORIGIN AND RADIUS r:

𝒙 𝟐 + 𝒚 𝟐 = 𝒓𝟐

EXAMPLE :

Determine the equation of the circle with centre at the origin and

a. Radius 3√2 units

b. Passing through the point Q (-4;-2)

SOLUTION:
𝟐
a. Using formula : 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝒓𝟐 ∴ 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = (3√2) ∴ 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟗 × 𝟐 ∴ 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟏𝟖

b. Passing through the point Q (-4;-2) ∴ Substitute 𝑄 (−4; −2) in formula 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝒓𝟐

∴ (−4)2 + (−2)2 = 𝑟 2 ∴ 16 + 4 = 𝑟 2 ∴ 20 = 𝑟 2
∴ 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟐𝟎

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ANALYTICAL GEOMETRY GRADE 12

NOTE

 IN ANY CIRCLE 𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑 = 𝟐 × 𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐔𝐒

 ANY CHORD OF THE CIRCLE (OTHER THAN THE DIAMETER) IS SHORTER THAN THE DIAMETER.
 DRAW A SKETCH TO HELP YOU INTTERPRET THE QUESTION AND THE ANSWER.

EXAMPLE

Two points (𝑎; 2) and (𝑏; 2) ( 𝑎 < 𝑏) lie on the circle 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟏𝟔.

Determine the distance between these two points.

Draw a rough sketch.

Let P(x;y)= P(a;2) and Q(b;2)

The equation of the line through P and Q is y=2.

Substitute y=2 into 𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟏𝟔

𝒙𝟐 + 𝟐𝟐 = 𝟏𝟔 ∴ 𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒 = 𝟏𝟔 ∴ 𝒙𝟐 = 𝟏𝟔 − 𝟒 ∴ 𝒙𝟐 = 𝟏𝟐 ∴ 𝒙 = ±√𝟏𝟐 = ±𝟐√𝟑

From the sketch 𝑃(𝑥; 𝑦) = 𝑃(−2√3; 2) and 𝑄(𝑥; 𝑦) = 𝑄(2√3; 2)

The points are 𝑃(−2√3; 2) and 𝑄(2√3; 2).

The required distance 𝑃𝑄 = 2 × 2√3 = 4√3

2 2
(or use the distance formula: 𝑑 = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 ) + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 ) )

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ANALYTICAL GEOMETRY GRADE 12

EXAMPLE

The straigh line 𝑥 − 𝑦 = 1 cuts the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 13 at A and B.

a. Determine the coordinates of A and B

b. Determine the length of AB
c. Determine the coordinates of M , the mid-point of AB.
d. Show that OM  AB.

SOLUTION

a. Choose A in 3rd quadrant and B in the 1st quadrant .

Solve 𝑥 − 𝑦 = 1 and 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 13 Simultaneously

𝑥 2 + (𝑥 − 1)2 = 13 Substitute 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 1
1
𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2 + 1 − 2𝑥 = 13 ∴ 2𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 12 = 0 (× ) ∴ 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 6 = 0
2

(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 3) = 0 ∴ 𝑥 = −2 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = +3

If 𝑥 = −2 ∴ 𝑦 = −2 − 1 = −3 or If 𝑥 = 3 ∴ 𝑦 = 3 − 1 = 2

𝑦 = 2 𝑜𝑟 𝑦 = −3

A(-2; -3) and B(3;2)

b. (Distance formula :𝑑 = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2 )

𝐴𝐵 = √(−2 − 3)2 + (−3 − 2)2 = √25 + 25 = √50 = 5√2

−2+3 −3+2 1 1
c. 𝑀 (𝑥; 𝑦) = 𝑀 ( ; ) = 𝑀( ; − )
2 2 2 2
1
− −0
2
d. 𝑚𝑂𝑀 = 1 = −1 ; 𝑚𝐴𝐵 = 1
−0
2

∴ 𝑚𝑂𝑀 × 𝑚𝐴𝐵 = −1 × 1 = −1OM  AB.

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ANALYTICAL GEOMETRY GRADE 12

THE EQUATION OF A CIRCLE WITH CENTRE (a;b) AND RADIUS r:

(𝒙 − 𝒂)𝟐 + (𝒚 − 𝒃)𝟐 = 𝒓𝟐

EXAMPLE

DETERMINE THE EQUATION OF THE CIRCLE WITH

A. CENTRE (2; 1) AND RADIUS 2√3
B. CENTRE(3; −5) AND PASSING THROUGH THE POINT (−1; 1)

SOLUTION
a. Centre (𝑎; 𝑏) = (2; 1) Radius is 𝑟 = 2√3
𝟐
(𝒙 − 𝟐)𝟐 + (𝒚 − 𝟏)𝟐 = (𝟐√𝟑)

So the required equation is (𝒙 − 𝟐)𝟐 + (𝒚 − 𝟏)𝟐 = 𝟏𝟐

b. Centre (3; −5) = (𝑎; 𝑏), radius r and point (−1; 1)

The equation of the circles is given by

𝒓𝟐 = (𝒙 − 𝒂)𝟐 + (𝒚 − 𝒃)𝟐

𝒓𝟐 = (𝒙 − 𝟑)𝟐 + (𝒚 + 𝟓)𝟐
Substitute (-1;1) into the equation
𝒓𝟐 = (−𝟏 − 𝟑)𝟐 + (𝟏 + 𝟓)𝟐
∴ 𝒓𝟐 = (−𝟒)𝟐 + (𝟔)𝟐 = 𝟏𝟔 + 𝟑𝟔 = 𝟓𝟐
Required equation (𝒙 − 𝟑)𝟐 + (𝒚 + 𝟓)𝟐 = 52

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ANALYTICAL GEOMETRY GRADE 12

EXAMPLE

Determine the coordinates of the centre and the radius of the circle
a. (𝑥 − 5)2 + (𝑦 + 1)2 = 24
b. 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 8𝑥 − 2𝑦 − 20 = 0
Solution
a. (𝑥 − 5)2 + (𝑦 + 1)2 = 24

This equation is already in the form (𝑥 − 𝑎)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑏)2 = 𝑟 2 where 𝑎 = 5 and 𝑏 = −1.

So the centre (𝑎; 𝑏) is (5; −1) and 𝑟 2 = 24 ∴ 𝑟 = 2√6

b. 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 8𝑥 − 2𝑦 − 20 = 0 must first be written in the form (𝑥 − 𝑎)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑏)2 = 𝑟 2

before the centre and the radius can be determined.

Complete the square for both x and y.

𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 = +20

8 2
= 4 → (4)2 = 16 𝑎𝑛𝑑 = 1 → (1)2 = 1
2 2

∴ 𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 16 + 𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 + 1 − 16 − 1 = +20

∴ (𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 16) + (𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 + 1) − 17 = +20

∴ (𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 16) + (𝑦 2 − 2𝑦 + 1) = 37

∴ (𝑥 − 4)2 + (𝑦 − 1)2 = 37

So the centre (𝑎; 𝑏) is (4; 1) and 𝑟 2 = 37 ∴ 𝑟 = √37

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ANALYTICAL GEOMETRY GRADE 12

EXAMPLE
Determine the equation of the circle s of radius 5 which cut the x-axis at (1;0) and (7;0).

Solution

Draw a rough sketch . Note that there are two such radius circles. Let (a;b) be the centre of the circle ,
then the equation is (𝑥 − 𝑎)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑏)2 = 25 since 𝑟 = 5

(1;0) lies on the circle ; so substituting into the equation :

(1 − 𝑎 )2 + (0 − 𝑏)2 = 25 ∴ (1 − 𝑎)2 + 𝑏2 = 25

Similarly (7; 0)lies on the circles ; so substituting into the equation :

(7 − 𝑎 )2 + (0 − 𝑏)2 = 25 ∴ (7 − 𝑎)2 + 𝑏2 = 25

Solve simultaneously equations: (1 − 𝑎)2 + 𝑏2 = 25 and (7 − 𝑎)2 + 𝑏2 = 25 

(1 − 𝑎)2 + 𝑏2 = (7 − 𝑎)2 + 𝑏2 ∴ 1 + 𝑎2 − 2𝑎 = 49 + 𝑎 2 − 14𝑎 ∴ 1 − 2𝑎 − 49 + 14𝑎 = 0

48
∴ 12𝑎 = 48 ∴ 𝑎 = =4
12

If 𝑎 = 4 ∴ (1 − 4)2 + 𝑏2 = 25 ∴ 9 + 𝑏2 = 25 ∴ 𝑏2 = 16 ∴ 𝑏 = ±4

So (4;4) and (4;-4) are possible centres.

The required equations are :

(𝑥 − 4)2 + (𝑦 − 4)2 = 25 and (𝑥 − 4)2 + (𝑦 + 4)2 = 25