EQUATION OF A CIRCLE

Learning Area: Mathematics III

Curriculum Year:
Proponent/Writer:
School and Address:
Least Learned Skill:
Third Year
Jayson O. Daguro
O’Donnell High School Annex
Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac
Finding the equation of a circle.

I. GUIDED CARD

Let the games begin!

The Olympic Flag
The Olympic flag, as we see it
today, was a first used in the 1920
games held in Antwerp, Belgium. The
five colors of the rings or circles are the
colors that can be found in most flags of
the world; although, some believe that
each color represents one continent. The
interlinking of these five rings signifies
the assembly of the athletes of the
world. The white background
symbolizes peace and unity throughout
the duration of the games. When and where will be the next Olympic Games after the succesfully
done in China last August 8, 2008? What is the ultimate goal of the Olympics?
This card tells us more about concepts and finding the equation of a circle. Come and
explore the beauty of the circle.

II. ACTIVITY CARD

Let’s review what we already know about circles.

A circle is a locus (set) of points in a plane equidistant from a fixed point.

A circle is a set of points equidistant from a fix point C(h, k) called center. The fixed distance r
from the center to any point on the circle is called radius.

The standard equation of a circle with C (h, k) and radius r is as follows:

(x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r2
 Circle whose center is at the origin Circle whose center is at (h, k)
Called the “center-radius form”
Equation: x2 + y2 = r2xample: Circle with center Equation: (x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r2
(0, 0), radius 4. Example: Circle with center (2, -5), radius 3.
2 2
x + y = 16 (x – 2)2 + (y + 5)2 = 9
Graph: Graph:
Center at (0, 0), radius 4 Center at (2, -5), radius 3
             6          
1 2 3 4 5 6
             5           -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 -1

             4                  
       -2  
             3                  
       -3  
             2                  
       -4  
             1                  
       --5  
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1  1 2 3 4  5  6         
-1       -6   
                     
-2          -7        
                     
 -3          -8        
                     
 -4          -9        
                     
 -5                  
                     
 -6                    

Now, if we “multiply out” the above example (x – 2)2 + (y + 5)2 = 9, we will get:

(x – 2)2 + (y + 5)2 = 9 When we multiply out, we obtain the “standard

(x2 - 4x + 4) + (y2 + 10y + 24) = 9 form” of the equation of a circle. Notice that
x2 - 4x + 4 + y2 + 10y + 24 = 9 in standard form we can clearly see that the
x2 + y2 – 4x + 10y + 20 = 0 equation of a circle has both x2 and y2 terms have
the same coeeficient (ussually 1).

Standard form of a circle

Ax2 + By2 + Cx + Dy + E = 0

When the equation of a circle appears in “standard form”, it is often beneficial to convert
the equation to “center-radius form” to easily read the center corrdinates and the radius.

Examples:

1. Convert x2 + y2 – 4x – 6y + 8 = 0 into center-radius form.

 This conversion requires use of technique of completing the square.

x2 + y2 – 4x – 6y + 8 = 0  Start by grouping the x related to terms together and the y

x2 – 4x + y2 – 6y = 8 related terms together. Take any numerical constant (plain
x2 – 4x + ___ + y2 – 6y + ___ = –8+___+___ numbers) to the right side.
x2 – 4x + 4 + y2 – 6y + 9 = –8+ 4 + 9  Set up spaces to receive your values for creating perfect
(x – 2)2 + (y – 3)2 = 5 square trinomials. Balance both sides.
 Find the missing value by taking have of the “middle term”
and squaring. This value is always positive.
Rewrite in factored form.

You can now read that the center of the circle is at (2, 3) and the radius is√ 5.

2. How do the coordinates of the center of a circle relate to C and D when the equation of a circle is
in the standard form:
x2 + y2 + Cx + Dy + E = 0?

Let’s make some observations. Re-examine our previous equations in standard form and
centered-radius form. Do you see a relationship between the center coordinates and C and D?

Standard Form Center-Radius Form

x2 + y2 – 4x + 10y + 20 = 0 (x – 2)2 + (y + 5)2 = 9
C = -4, D = 10 Center (2, - 5)
x2 + y2 – 4x + 6y + 8 = 0 (x – 2)2 + (y – 3)2 = 5
C = -4, D = -6 Center (2, 3)

It appears that the values of C and D are -2 times the coordinates of the center respectively. Why
is this occurring?
When (x – 2)2 + (y – 3)2 = 5 is expanded, (x – 2)2 becomes x2 – 4x + 4, where the center term’s
coefficient doubles the value of -2. Remember that while the equation deals with (x – 2) 2, the actual x-
coordinate of the center of this circle is +2.

(x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r2 has center at (h, k)

3. Write the equation of the circle whose diameter has endpoints (4, -1) and (-6, 7).

            14          
Find the center using the midpoint formula.
            12          
x 1+ x 2 y 1+ y 2 −6+ 4 7+−1
            10           ( 2
,
2 ) (
=
2
,
2 )
= (-1, 3)
            8          

            6           Find the radius using the distance formula.

            4           d= √ ¿ ¿
Wn           2           = √ {−6−(−1) }2+¿ ¿
belo
w it = √ (−5)2 +(4)2= √25+16=√ 41
 -12
is
- -8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8  10  12 
The equation of the circle is:
1
0
-2 (x + 1)2 + (y – 3)2 = 41
                     
 -4
                     
 -6
                     
 -8

4. Write the equation of the circle shown below if it is shifted 3 units to the right and 4 units
up.

6
A shift of 3 units to the right and 4 units up
5 places the center at the point (3, 4). The radius
4 of the circle can be seen from the graph to be 5
3 units.
2
Equation:
(x – 1)2 + (y – 4)2 = 25
1

-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6
-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

-6

5. Convert 2x2 + 2y2 + 6x – 8y + 12 = 0 into center radius form.

Whoa!!! This equation looks different. Are you sure

this is a circle?
In this equation, both the x and y terms appear in
squared form and their coefficients (the number in
front of them) are the same. Yes we have a circle
here! We will, however, have to deal with the
coefficients of 2 before we can complete the square.

2x2 + 2y2 + 6x – 8y + 12 = 0
2x2 + 6x + 2y2 – 8y + 12 = 0  Group the terms.
x2 + 3x + y2 – 4y + 6 = 0  Divide each term by 2.
x2 + 3x + ___ + y2 – 4y + ___ = -6 + ___ + ___  Get ready to create perfect squares.
x2 + 3x + 9/4 + y2 – 4y + 4 = -6 + 9/4 + 4  Take half of the middle term and square it.
 Factor and write in center-radius form.
(x + 3/2)2 + (y – 2)2 = ¼

III. ASSESMENT CARD

BE Challenge… try more examples…

Example 1: Find the equation of a circle whose center is at (2, -4) and radius 5.

Example 2: Find the equation of a circle that has a diameter whose endpoints A(-1, 2) and B(3,
2).

Example 3: Find the center and radius of the circle with equation x2 – 4x + y2 – 6y + 9 = 0.

Solutions:
Example1:
Given: (h, k) = (2, -4) and r = 5
Substitute (h, k) and r in the standard equation:
(x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r2
 (x – 2)2 + (y –(-4))2 = 52
Equation of the circle: (x – 2)2 + (y + 4)2 = 25

Example 2:
The center of the circle is the midpoint of the line segment making the diameter AB.
x-coordinate of C = (-1 + 3)/2 = 1
y-coordinate of C = (2 + 2)/2 = 2

The radius is the half the distance between A and B.

r = {(1/2) [(3 – (-1)]2 + [2 – 2]2}1/2
r = (1/2)(42+ + 02)1/2
r=2

The coordinate of C and the radius are used in the standard equation of the circle to obtain the
equation:
(x – 1)2 + (y – 2)2 = 22
Equation of the circle: (x – 1)2 + (y – 2)2 = 4

Example 3:
In order to find the center and the radius of the circle, we, first rewrite the given equation into the
standard form as given above in the definition. Put all terms with x and x2 together and all terms
with y and y2 together using parentheses.

(x2 – 4x) + (y2 – 6y) + 9 = 0

We now complete the square within each parenthesis:

(x2 – 4x + 4) + (y2 – 6y + 9) = -9 + 4 + 9

Simplify and write in standard form.

(x – 2)2 + (y – 3)2 = 4
(x – 2)2 + (y – 3)2 = 22

We now compare this equation and the standard equation to obtain

Center at C(h, k) = C(2, 3) and r = 2

IV. ENRICHMENT CARD

Mathched Exercises 1: Find the equation of a circle whose center is at (2, -4) and radius 3.
Mathched Exercises 2: Find the equation of a circle that has a diameter with the endpoints
given by A(0, -2) and B(0, 2).

Mathched Exercises 3: Find the center and radius of the circle with equation
x2 – 2x + y2 – 8y + 1 = 0.

V. REFERENCE CARD

A circle is the set of points from a fixed-point C(h, k) called center. The fixed
distance r from the center to any point on the circle is called radius.

The standard equation of a circle with center C(h, k) and radius r is as follows:
 (x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r2

 GEOMETRY IN THE REAL WORLD (Explorations and Applications) by Karl Friedrich

and Jose D. Romero, pp. 288 – 291.

 e-MATH GEOMETRY by Orlando A. Oronce, pp. 445 – 448.

ANSWERS KEY:

Mathched Exercises 1: Find the equation of a circle whose center is at (2, -4) and radius 3.

Equation of the circle: (x – 2)2 + (y + 4)2 = 9

Mathched Exercises 2: Find the equation of a circle that has a diameter with the endpoints
given by A(0, -2) and B(0, 2).

Center at (0, 0)and r = 2

Equation of the circle: x2 + y2 = 4

Mathched Exercises 3: Find the center and radius of the circle with equation
x2 – 2x + y2 – 8y + 1 = 0.

Write the given equation in standard form by completing the squares.

x2 – 2x + y2 – 8y + 1 = 0.

x2 – 2x + 1 + y2 – 8y + 16 = -1 + 1 + 16

(x – 1)2 + (y – 4)2 = 16

(x – 1)2 + (y – 4)2 = 42
∴ Center is at (1, 4) and r = 4