Circles – Summary

Important concept

** The perpendicular bisector of any chord ALWAYS passes through the

centre of the circle.

D (xD, yD)
** The normal to a tangent of a circle at the point of
contact always passes through the centre.

(Property: tangent perpendicular to radius)

If you know the equation of tangent, you can work out

C(xC, yC)
the gradient of normal ( mCD = −1  mAB ) and the
equation of normal using y − yD = mCD ( x − xD ) .

To write the equation of the circle, we need TWO info:

➢ Radius of circle
➢ Coordinates of the centre of the circle
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If we are told that the line L1 passes through the centre of circle and we are given two coordinate points
A (x1, y1) and B (x2, y2) that lie on the circumference of the circle, we can work out the equation of the circle
through the following steps:
x B(x2, y2)
• Find the midpoint of AB. L1
• Find the gradient (m1) of AB.
A x (x1, y1)
• Using m1m2 = −1, find the gradient (m2) of the perpendicular
bisector of AB.
x (a, b)
• Deduce the equation of the perpendicular bisector of AB.
• Solve the equation of the “perpendicular bisector of AB”
simultaneously with the equation of L1. You will get the
coordinates of the centre, C (a, b) of the circle.
• To deduce the radius, r of the circle, we can apply the formula

Radius, r = (a − x1 ) 2 + ( b − y1 )
2
or

r = (a − x2 ) 2 + ( b − y2 )
2

The equation of the circle is ( x − a)2 + ( y − b)2 = r 2 . Note: This form is also known as equation of circle in standard form.

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 If the equation of the circle is given in general form (i.e. expanded form), we can deduce the coordinates of
centre and radius of circle using the formulae below:

E.g. Solutions
2 −10
Coordinates of centre are ( , ) = (−1, 5)
−2 −2

Radius = √12 + (−5)2 − 1 = 5 units

Example 1

Solutions

The equation of the circle centre (2, −1) and radius

5 units is

(x – 2)2 + (y + 1)2 = 52

x2 – 4x + 4 + y2 + 2y + 1 = 25

x2 + y2 – 4x + 2y – 20 = 0

Comparing x2 + y2 – 4x + 2y – 20 = 0 with

x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0,

2g = –4
g = –2

2f = 2
f=1
c = –20

Hence g = –2, f = 1 and c = –20.

 To determine whether two circles intersect, touches each other or do not
intersect each other ---- Main concept

Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Scenario 3

Two circles, C1 and C2 with centres Two circles, C1 and C2 with centres Two circles, C1 and C2 with centres
(x1, y1) and (x2, y2) intersect each (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) touches each (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) do not
other other intersect each other
C2 C1 C2 C1 C2
C1

√(𝑥1 − 𝑥2 )2 + (𝑦1 − 𝑦2 )2 √(𝑥1 − 𝑥2 )2 + (𝑦1 − 𝑦2 )2 √(𝑥1 − 𝑥2 )2 + (𝑦1 − 𝑦2 )2

is smaller than the sum of is equal to the sum of the is more than the sum of
the radii radii radii

Scenario 4

Two circles, C1 and C2 with centres

(x1, y1) and (x2, y2) do not
intersect each other
C1
C2

√(𝑥1 − 𝑥2 )2 + (𝑦1 − 𝑦2 )2
is less than the sum of the
radii AND the radius of C1 Example of Scenario 4
Example 2 --- Conceptual type of question
Recall: Tangent to the circle means
touching the circle at one point. “Cannot be
a tangent” to the circle means the line
either cuts the circle at two points or does
not cut the circle at all!
Solutions

x2 + y2 + 4x + 6y – 12 = 0

x2 + 4x + 4 + y2 + 6y + 9 = 25 Whatever the case, always work out the

radius and coordinates of centre of the circle!
(x + 2)2 + (y + 3)2 = 52

The centre of the circle is (–2, –3) of radius 5 units.

Thinking process: We must know exactly

Distance between point and centre of circle
where the point (−3, −1) lies. Is it inside the
= ( −2 − (−3) ) + ( −3 − (−1) )
2 2

circle, on the circumference or outside the

circle? We can check by finding the distance
= 1+ 4 between the point (−3, −1) and the centre.

= 5 units

Since the distance between the point and centre of circle is less than the radius of the circle, the point (–3, –1)
lies within the circle. Any line that passes through this point will cut the circle twice, not once. Hence the line
that passes through this point cannot be a tangent to the circle.

Example 3 --- Another conceptual type of question

Solutions

x2 + y2+ 2x – 2y – 3 = 0
Whatever the case, work out the radius and
x2+ 2x + 1 + y2 – 2y + 1 – 3 = 0
coordinates of centre!
(x + 1)2 + (y – 1)2 = 5

So, the centre of the circle is (–1, 1) of radius 5 units.

 2 −1 1
The gradient of the line formed by (1, 2) and the centre of the circle = 1 − (−1) = 2 .

So, the gradient of the tangent line is −2.

Recall: Tangent is
The equation of the tangent is given by perpendicular to radius

y – 2 = −2(x – 1)

y = −2x + 4

Example 4 --- Another conceptual type of qn (circle + discriminant + quadratic inequality)

Solutions

(i)

y = mx – 1 -------------- (1)
3

x2 + y2 + 6x – 8y = 0 ----- (2)
2
 1  1
(1) = (2) : x 2 +  mx −  + 6 x − 8  mx −  = 0
 3  3

2mx 1 8
x 2 + m2 x 2 − + + 6 x − 8mx + = 0
3 9 3

9x2 + 9m2x2 – 6mx + 1 + 54x – 72mx + 24 = 0

(9 + m2)x2 + (54 – 78m)x + 25 = 0

Since there are two distinct points of intersection, the discriminant, b2 – 4ac > 0.

(54 – 78m)2 – 4(9 + 9m2)(25) > 0

2916 – 8424m + 6084m2 – 900 – 900m2 > 0

Recall: Notice that this is a “quadratic inequality”.
5184m2– 8424m + 2016 > 0 Therefore, “factorise” and “give a sketch” before
stating the final answer.
72m2 – 117m + 28 > 0

(3m – 4)(24m – 7) > 0

 Note: The coefficient of m2 is more
than zero. The final answer is
+ + obtained directly from the sketch.

7 4
24 − 3

4 7
m or m
3 24

(ii)

Since line is tangent to circle, there is one distinct point of intersection.

b2 – 4ac = 0

(3m – 4)(24m – 7) = 0

4 7
m= or m =
3 24

(iii)

Since there is no point of intersection, the discriminant b2 – 4ac < 0.

(3m – 4)(24m – 7) < 0

7 4
<m<
24 3

Example 5 --- 2012 GCE ‘O’ Level Paper 1

 −3)2 + 42 − ((375)
((3) −375)

When x = 0, y = 0

 the line CP passes through the origin.

x 2 + 9 x + 20.25 + y 2 − 12 y + 36 = 56.25
x 2 + y 2 + 9 x − 12 y = 0
Example 6 --- 2015 GCE ‘O’ Level Paper 2

Solutions
6 −4
(i) Coordinates of centre are ( , ) = (−3, 2)
−2 −2

Radius = √32 + (−2)2 − (−12) = 5 units

Alternative Method

Coordinates of centre are (−3, 2) and the radius is 5 units.

2+1 3
(ii) Gradient of CP = −3+7 = 4
4
Gradient of the line perpendicular to CP = − 3

4
Equation of the tangent at P is y + 1 = − 3 (𝑥 + 7)
3y + 3 = −4x −28
3y + 4x + 31 = 0 (shown)
 Q is same distance from the y-axis
as P. This means that Q has the
same x-coordinate as P.

Example 7 --- 2016 AHS AM Prelim Paper 2

The lines x = 3 and y = −4 are tangents to a circle C with its centre (a, b ) in the second quadrant. The line T
is a tangent to C at the point (1, − 3) on the circle.

(i) Show that a + b + 1 = 0 . [1]

Find

(ii) the centre of the circle (a, b ) , [4]

(iii) the equation of C, and [1]

(iv) the equation of T. [3]

Solutions

Example 8 --- 2019 ‘O’ Level AM Prelim Paper 2

Example 8 --- 2019 ‘O’ Level AM Paper 2
A tangent to a circle at the point (5, 5) passes through the origin. The line with equation 3y = x + 2 is a normal
to the circle.

(i) Showing all your working, find the equation of the circle. [7]
(ii) Find the coordinates of the point on the circle which is nearest to the x-axis. [2]

Ans: (i) (x − 7)2 + (y − 3)2 = 8 (ii) (7, 3 −22)

Solutions