209. Three circles of radii a, b and c (a<b<c) touch each other externally.

If they have x-axis as a common

tangent, then
1 1 1
(1) = +
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
(2) 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 are in A.P.
(3) a, b, c are in A. P.
1 1 1
(4) = +
𝑏 𝑎 𝑐

Solution:

2 2
Equation of circle with X-axis as tangent ⇒ 𝑥 − ℎ + 𝑦−𝑘 = 𝑘 2 , which has centre at (ℎ, 𝑘) and is of
radius 𝑘.

Thus, equations of the circles are:

 2 2
𝑥 − ℎ1 + 𝑦−𝑎 = 𝑎2 − − − −→ 𝐼 𝐶𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑒 ≡ (ℎ1 , 𝑎)
2 2
𝑥 − ℎ2 + 𝑦−𝑏 = 𝑏 2 − − − −→ 𝐼𝐼 𝐶𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑒 ≡ (ℎ2 , 𝑏)
2 2
𝑥 − ℎ3 + 𝑦−𝑐 = 𝑐 2 − − − −→ 𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝐶𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑒 ≡ (ℎ3 , 𝑐)

For externally touching circles, sum of radii = distance between centers.

∴𝑏+𝑎 = ℎ2 − ℎ1 2 + 𝑏−𝑎 2

2 2 2
⟹ 𝑏+𝑎 = ℎ2 − ℎ1 + 𝑏−𝑎
2
⟹ 4𝑎𝑏 = ℎ2 − ℎ1 − − − −→ 𝐴

Similarly,
2
4𝑏𝑐 = ℎ3 − ℎ2 − − − −→ 𝐵
2
4𝑐𝑎 = ℎ1 − ℎ3 − − − −→ 𝐶

By diagram,

𝐵𝐶 = 𝐴𝐵 + 𝐴𝐶

∴ ℎ3 − ℎ2 2 + 0−0 2 = ℎ2 − ℎ1 2 + 0−0 2 + ℎ1 − ℎ3 2 + 0−0 2

⇒ 4𝑏𝑐 = 4𝑎𝑏 + 4𝑐𝑎

⇒ 𝑏𝑐 = 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑐𝑎

𝑏𝑐 𝑎𝑏 𝑐𝑎
⇒ = +
𝑎𝑏𝑐 𝑎𝑏𝑐 𝑎𝑏𝑐

1 1 1
⇒ = + (1)
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐

210. If the circles 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 16𝑥 − 20𝑦 + 164 = 𝑟 2 and 𝑥 − 4 2 + 𝑦 − 7 2 = 36 intersect at two

distinct points, then
(1) 0 < 𝑟 < 1 (2) 1 < 𝑟 < 11
(3) 𝑟 > 11 (4) 𝑟 = 11

Solution:

𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 16𝑥 − 20𝑦 + 164 = 𝑟 2 − − − −(𝐼)

2 2
𝑥−4 + 𝑦−7 = 36 − − − −(𝐼𝐼)
 16 20
Center of Circle-(I) ≡ , ≡ (8,10)
2 2

16 2 20 2
Radius of Circle-(I) = − + − − 164 − 𝑟 2 = 164 − 164 + 𝑟 2 = 𝑟
2 2

Center of Circle-(II) ≡ (4,7)

Radius of Circle-(II) = 36 = 6

We know(See the wapp animation), for two circles intersecting at two distinct points

𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑖 < 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 < 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑟 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑖

∴𝑟∼6< 8−4 2 + 10 − 7 2 <𝑟+6

⇒ 𝑟 − 6 < 25 < 𝑟 + 6

∴ 𝐸𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 0 ≤ 𝑟 − 6 < 5 < 𝑟 + 6 𝑜𝑟 0 > 𝑟 − 6 > −5 > − 𝑟+6

⇒0≤𝑟−6<5 ∧ 5<𝑟+6 𝑜𝑟 0 > 𝑟 − 6 > −5 ∧ −5>− 𝑟+6

⇒ 6 < 𝑟 < 11 ∧ −1 < 𝑟 𝑜𝑟 6 > 𝑟 > 1 ∧ 1 > −𝑟

⇒ 6 < 𝑟 < 11 𝑜𝑟 6 > 𝑟 > 1 ∧ 1<𝑟

⇒1<𝑟<6

⇒ 1 < 𝑟 < 6 ∨ 6 < 𝑟 < 11

∴ 1 < 𝑟 < 11 (2)

211. If a circle C passing through the point (4,0) touches the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 4𝑥 − 6𝑦 = 12 externally
at the point (1, −1), then r = the radius of C is
1 57 2 4 3 2 5 (4) 5

Let the centre of C is (𝑥, 𝑦).

Centre of 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 4𝑥 + 6𝑦 = 12 is (−2,3).
Since the centers of two touching circles and their point of contact are collinear, thus,
(𝑥, 𝑦) ; (−2,3) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 (1, −1) are collinear.
𝑦−3 3+1
∴ =
𝑥 + 2 −2 − 1
𝑦−3 4
⇒ =−
𝑥+2 3
⇒ −3𝑦 + 9 = 4𝑥 + 8
⇒ 4𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 1 = 0 − − − −(𝑖)
Since C is a circle, distance from two points on its circumference and its centre is same.
∴ 𝑥−4 2+ 𝑦−0 2 = 𝑥−1 2+ 𝑦+1 2
⇒ 𝑥−4 2+ 𝑦−0 2 = 𝑥−1 2+ 𝑦+1 2
⇒ 𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 16 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1 + 𝑦 2 + 2𝑦 + 1
⇒ 6𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 14 = 0 − − − −(𝑖𝑖)

By 3 × 𝑖𝑖 − 2 × 𝑖 , we get:

∴ 3 6𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 14 − 2 4𝑥 + 3𝑦 − 1 = 0

⇒ 10𝑥 − 40 = 0

⇒𝑥=4

⇒ 4 4 + 3𝑦 − 1 = 0 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑖

⇒ 𝑦 = −5

∴ 𝐶𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐶 ≡ 4, −5

Thus, radius = 4−4 2 + −5 − 0 2 = 0 2 + −5 2 = 0 + 25 = 5 (4)