DOUBLEROOT Cheat Sheet – Circle

Equations of a Circle Family of Circles

Center: (0, 0) and Radius: a Passing through the points of intersection of a circle
2 2 2
x + y = a (Standard) S = 0 and a line L = 0
S + λL = 0
Center: (x1, y1) and Radius: r
(x − x1 )2 + (y − y1 )2 = r 2 Passing through the points of intersection of two
circles S = 0 and S’ = 0
Center: (-g, -f) and Radius: √g 2 + f 2 − c S + λS′ = 0
x 2 + y 2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 (General)
Passing through two points A(x1, y1) and B(x2, y2)
End points of diameter: (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) (x − x1 )(x − x2 ) + (y − y1 )(y − y2 )
(x − x1 )(x − x2 ) + (y − y1 )(y − y2 ) = 0 + λ[(x2 − x1 )(y − y1 ) − (y2 − y1 )(x − x1 )] = 0
Notations Touching the line L = 0 at the point (x1, y1)
2
Standard: T = xx1 + yy1 – a , S1 = x12 + y12
–a 2
(x − x1 )2 + (y − y1 )2 + λL = 0
General: T = xx1 + yy1 + g(x + x1) + f(y + y1) + c
S1 = x12 + y12 + 2gx1 + 2fy1 + c Two circles
S: x 2 + y 2 + 2g1 x + 2f1 y + c1 = 0
Position of a point (x1, y1) w.r.t. a circle Center: C1 , Radius: r1
Outside: S1 > 0, On: S1 = 0, Inside: S1 < 0
S′: x 2 + y 2 + 2g 2 x + 2f2 y + c2 = 0
Tangent Center: C2 , Radius: r2
Equation of the tangent at the point (x1, y1) Angle of Intersection
T=0 (S1 = 0) r12 + r22 − (C1 C2 )2
cos(π – θ) =
Equation of the tangent of given slope m 2r1 r2
Standard: y = mx ± a√1 + m2 Orthogonal Intersection
General: y + f = m(x + g) ± √g 2 + f2 − c√1 + m2 r12 + r22 = (C1 C2 )2 or

Length of the tangent from the point (x1, y1) 2g1 g 2 + 2f1 f2 = c1 + c2
√S1 Radical axis
Normal S – S’ = 0 or
Equation of the normal at the point (x1, y1) 2(g1 − g 2 )x + 2(f1 − f2 )y + c1 − c2 = 0
y x
Standard: = Represents equation of common chord when the circles
y1 x1
intersect, and the common tangent (at the point of
y − y1 x − x1
General: = contact) when the circles touch each other.
y1 + f x1 + g
Relative Position (Common Tangents)
Equation of the normal of given slope m
Outside one another: C1C2 > r1 + r2 (4)
Standard: y = mx
Touching externally: C1C2 = r1 + r2 (3)
General: y + f = m(x + g)
Intersecting at 2 points: |r1 – r2| < C1C2 < r1 + r2 (2)
Chord of contact w.r.t the point (x1, y1) Touching internally: C1C2 = |r1 – r2| (1)
T=0 (S1 > 0) One inside the other: C1C2 < |r1 – r2| (0)
Chord with mid-point (x1, y1)
T = S1 (S1 < 0)

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