CIRCLE

A circle is a set of points in the plane that are equidistant from a given point called the
centre.

Circle with Centre O and Radius r

The fixed point of a circle is called the centre and the constant distance is called the radius
of the circle.
Equation of Circle
To determine the equation of a circle, we let C(h,k) be a fixed point, P(x,y) be the moving point and |CP|=r be the constant
distance.

P(x,y)

C(h,k)

To determine the equation of the circle, we let be a fixed point, be the moving
point and be the constant distance. Using the distance formula;
√
Squaring on both sides, we have; which is the standard form of
equation of a circle with centre and radius
If the centre of the circle is at the origin, then and the equation reduces to
Example
Find the equation of the circle with centre and radius 5.

Solution
Using the standard equation of a circle;

Substituting and , we have;

( )

Example
Find the general equation of the circle that has centre (1,-3) and passes through the point.

Solution
To get r, we use the point (5,4)=(x,y) which is on the circle and the coordinates of the centre
(1,-3)=(h,k)
√

√
Substituting √ , h=1 and k=-3 in the standard equation of the circle we obtain;

Example
Change to standard form and give the radius and coordinates of
the centre of the circle.

Solution
Dividing through by the coefficient of , that is, 3 we have

Completing the square for x and y we obtain

Factorization of this equation yields

or
Therefore the radius is and centre is ( )

General equation of a circle

Every equation of a circle can be reduced to a general second degree form;

To develop a general equation for the circle, we expand and rearrange the standard equation of
a circle;

We let and

Thus we get

which is the general form of equation of a circle.

Example

Find the equation of the circle that passes through the points (1,2), (-2,1) and (2,3) and hence
find the centre and radius of the circle.

Solution
Let the equation of the circle be
Since each point is on the circle, the coordinates of the given points must satisfy the equation;
Using the point

Solving these equations simultaneously we get and

Substituting these values into the general equation we obtain;

OR

To find the centre (h,k) and radius r, we change the general equation to standard form by
completing the square

√
Therefore, the centre ( )and the radius is

Example
A circle is tangent to the line at the point and the centre lies on the line
. Find the equation of the circle.

Solution
Draw the graph that meets all the conditions given. Draw the line that passes through
perpendicular to the line , so that r intersects at the centre of the
circle.
 C

Writing in the slope intercept form, we obtain , hence

the slope of the line is 2. The slope of the line , which is perpendicular to is

Using the slope and coordinates of the point in the point-slope form, we
obtain

which is the equation of the perpendicular lie

Solving the equations and gives the coordinates of the centre .
Using the distance formula and the points and we get the radius of the circle as;
√
√
√

√
Therefore the equation of the circle is in standard form is
√