Worksheet on Equations of Circles

The equation of a circle is based upon its definition

and the Pythagorean theorem. Since a locus for the
circle is “the set of points equidistant from a single
point called the center” and that distance between
the center and the point on the circle is a constant
radius, then we can consider the radius to be the
hypotenuse of all right triangles whose sides are the
differences between the ( x , y ) coordinates of the
center and the ( x , y ) coordinates of any point on
the circle as illustrated in the graph to the right.

Since the radius is constant and the center is equi-

distant from all points on the circle, then we can
apply our distance formula to develop an equation for the circle.

If a circle has a radius of r and center coordinates of ( h , k ), and any point on the
circle has coordinates of ( x , y ), then the standard form of the equation that
relates these elements is as follows:

x h2  y k  2  r 2

In the diagram above, the center of the circle occurs at ( 6 , 4 ) with a radius of 5 units.
Hence, the standard form of the equation of this circle would be

  y  4
2


x  6  2
 52
If we were to expand this equation
and put it into general form, then it would be
x 2
+ y 2
– 12 x – 8 y + 27 = 0
Your Turn: Sample problems:
A. Identify the center and radius of each equation below.

Eq. # Standard Graphing Equation Radius Center

1 ( x – 2 ) 2 + ( y – 5 ) 2 = 144
2 ( x – 0 ) 2 + ( y – 7 ) 2 = 625
3 ( x – 15 ) 2 + ( y + 8 ) 2 = 289
4 ( x + 11 ) 2 + ( y + 6 ) 2 = 324
5 ( x + 4 ) 2 + ( y – 9 ) 2 = 196

B. Given each center and radius below, write the equation of the circle in standard
graphing form.

Eq. # Center Radius Standard Graphing Equation

1 ( -5 , 12 ) 13
2 ( 9 , -12 ) 15
3 ( -7 , 0 ) 10
4 ( 11 , 14 ) 9
5 ( -6 , -8 ) 5
Now, let’s reverse the process. Suppose that we had an equation in general form. How
could we convert it into standard form suitable for graphing?

That process would involve completing the square of the binominals

for ( x – h ) and ( y – k ) .

Consider the general equation of the circle defined by x2 + y2 – 14x – 18y + 105 = 0.

First, group the terms by variable in brackets: [ x2– 14x ] + [ y2 – 18y ] + 105 = 0.

Then, take half of the linear term and square it for each variable: = 49 =81.

Add AND Subtract the appropriate quantity inside each pair of brackets so that we are
adding ZERO to the equation thereby changing only its form but preserving its value:
[ x2– 14x + 49 – 49 ] + [ y2 – 18y + 81 – 81 ] + 105 = 0.
Group appropriate terms into expanded binomials within the brackets.
[ ( x2– 14x + 49 ) – 49 ] + [ ( y2 – 18y + 81 ) – 81 ] + 105 = 0.
Factor the trinomials into binomials squared and collect the remaining terms:
( x – 7 ) 2 + ( y – 9 ) 2 – 49 – 81 + 105 = 0.
Combine the constants: ( x – 7 ) 2 + ( y – 9 ) 2 – 25 = 0
Add the total to both sides of the equation to produce the graphing form of the equation
of a circle.
( x – 7 ) 2 + ( y – 9 ) 2 = 25 = 5 2

Your turn: transform the following equation into standard graphing form, then identify
the center and radius of the circle, and graph the result.

x2 + y2 – 6x – 8y – 75 = 0