CIRCLES

Objective/s:
• Define a circle
• Determine the standard form of equation of a circle
• Graph a circle in a rectangular coordinate system

Definition of Terms:

Circle → it is the locus of all points in the plane whose distances from a fixed point are the same.
→ it is also considered as a special kind of ellipse
Center → the fixed point (h,k) denoted by “C”
Radius → the distance, denoted by r, from the center to any point on the circle which is always greater
than 0. If 𝒓 = 𝟎 or 𝒓 < 𝟎, then it’s not an equation of a circle.

Equation of a Circle:

P (x,y)
By the distance formula:
√(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟
2
(√(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 ) = 𝑟 2 Squaring both sides
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟 2
Equation of a Circle:
C (h,k)
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟 2 where (ℎ, 𝑘) is the center of
the circle and 𝑟 is the radius
2 2 2
𝑥 +𝑦 =𝑟 when the center is at the
origin (0,0)

Example 1:
Write the standard equation of the circle with center (−2,3) and radius 5 and graph the circle in a
rectangular coordinate system.
Solution:
Since (ℎ, 𝑘) = (−2,3) and 𝑟 = 5, we have
→ (𝑥 − (−2))2 + (𝑦 − 3)2 = 52

→ (𝑥 + 2)2 + (𝑦 − 3)2 = 25

Steps on graphing a circle:

1. Plot the center of the circle on the coordinate system.
2. Count 5 units (5 in this case ‘cause of its radius) upward from
center, 5 units downward from the center, 5 units to the left
(from the center) and 5 units to right (from the center).
3. Connect those four points to form a circle.
Example 2:
Graph (𝑥 + 2)2 + (𝑦 − 1)2 = 4. Find the center and radius.
Solution:
From the standard equation of the circle given, we can say that the center of the circle is (−2,1) and its
radius is √4 = 2.

Example 3:
Write the equation of the circle 3𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 3𝑦 2 + 4𝑦 − 4 = 0 in standard form and determine its center
and radius.
3𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 3𝑦 2 + 4𝑦 − 4 = 0
3𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 3𝑦 2 + 4𝑦 = 4 By Addition Property of Equality
2 2
(3𝑥 − 6𝑥) + (3𝑦 + 4𝑦) = 4 Group together terms with the same variables
2 2 4
3(𝑥 − 2𝑥) + 3 (𝑦 + 3 𝑦) = 4 To perform the Completing the Square,
factor out the leading coefficient of each group.

4 4 4
3(𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1) + 3 (𝑦 2 + 3 𝑦 + 9) = 4 + 3 + 3 By Completing the Square
2 2 25
3(𝑥 − 1)2 + 3 (𝑦 + 3) = By Factoring
3
25
2 2
(𝑥 − 1)2 + (𝑦 + ) = 3
Dividing both sides by 3
3 3

2 2 25
(𝑥 − 1)2 + (𝑦 + ) = Equation of the Circle
3 9

2 5
Center = (1, − 3) and Radius = 3

Example 4:
A ferris wheel is elevated 1 m above ground. When a car reaches the highest point on the ferris wheel,
its altitude from the ground level is 31 m. how far away from the center, horizontally, is the car when it
is at an altitude of 25 m?
Solution:
Illustration of the problem:
Since the ferris wheel is elevated 1 m above ground and its
highest point from the ground is 31 m, then its diameter is
30 m and the radius is 15 m. The center is at (0,16). The
equation is 𝑥 2 + (𝑦 − 16)2 = 225.

Now, let’s solve for the distance of the car from the center,
horizontally, when its altitude from the ground is 25 m.
The equation of the circle is 𝑥 2 + (𝑦 − 16)2 = 225.
Substituting 𝑦 = 25 to the equation, we have
𝑥 2 + (25 − 16)2 = 225
𝑥 2 + (9)2 = 225
𝑥 2 = 225 − 81 = 144
𝑥 = ±12 or 𝑥 = 12 (distance)
Therefore, the distance of the car from the center is 12 m when it is at an altitude of 25 m.
References:

Teaching Guide for Senior High School Precalculus (Commission on Higher Education)

Precalculus Version [𝜋] = 3, Corrected Edition