1.2: GRAPH OF EQUATIONS AND CIRCLES ABUJIYA, M.R.

1.2: GRAPH OF EQUATIONS AND CIRCLES

I. Intercepts

The x-coordinates where a graph intersects the x-axis are called the x-intercepts of the graph. Also,
the y-coordinates where a graph intersects the y-axis are called the y-intercepts of the graph.

x  intercept
(x, 0) y  intercept
(0, y)

▪ x – intercept: value of x when y = 0

▪ y – intercept: value of y when x = 0

Example 1: Find the x- and y-intercept of the graph of each of the following equation

x2 y2
(a)  1 (b) y   x  4 (c) y  x  3 (d) x 2  xy  y  1
9 4

II. Graph of an Equation

The graph of an equation in two variables, x and y, is the set of all points (x, y) in the coordinate plane
that satisfy the equation.

How to graph: (1) Make y the subject of the formula ( y = ……….)

(2) Find the real zeros of expression inside (bracket), root , AV

(3) Make the table:

x y
points < real zeros
real zeros
points > real zeros

(4) Find the x-intercepts and y-intercepts

(5) If the relation is of degree 1, join points by a line otherwise join points by curve.

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Example 2: Sketch the graph of each equation

(a) 2x  y  4 (b) y  x  3  2 (c) x 2  y  2 (d) y  2  x

III. Equation of a Circle

A circle is the set of points in a plane that are equidistant from a specified point. The specified point is
the center and the distance is the radius of the circle.

Radius: r

Center: (h, k) Point on

circle: (x, y)

Standard Form for the Equation of a Circle

The standard form for the equation of a circle with center (h, k) and radius r is given by

 x  h   y  k   r2 .
2 2

If the center is the origin (0, 0), then then the equation is x 2  y 2  r 2 .

Example 3: Determine the center and radius of the circle with the given equation.
1
(a) x 2  y 2  25  x  2    y  5  121  x  8  y2 
2 2 2
(b) (c)
4

Example 4: Find the standard form of the equation of a circle that satisfies the given conditions

(a) Center  2,  5 and radius 3

1 1
(b) Center  ,  and diameter 8
2 4
(c) Center  7,  3 and tangent to x– axis

(d) A diameter with endpoints  1, 1 and  5, 9 

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1.2: GRAPH OF EQUATIONS AND CIRCLES ABUJIYA, M.R.

(e) Center  1, 5  and passing through the point  4,  6 

(f) Center in second quadrant, tangent to both axis, and radius of 3

General Form for the Equation of a Circle

The general form of equation of a circle is the expanded form of  x  h    y  k   r 2 , which is

2 2

given by
x 2  y 2  Cx  Dy  E  0 .

To find the center, radius or standard form of equation of a circle from the general form, do the
following:
i. make the coefficient of x 2 = coefficient of y 2 = 1
ii. do completing the square on both x and y separately

For example, to solve x 2  bx  c  0 , by completing the square:

(a) Re-write x 2  bx  c  0 in the form x 2  bx   c

2 2
2
b b
(b) Add  b  to both sides as, x 2  bx      c   
2 2  2
2
 b b2
(c) Factor as,  x     c  and solve the equation.
 2 4

you will obtain equation of the form  x  h    y  k   m 

2 2
iii. r2

1. if m  0  circle
2. if m  0  point
3. if m  0  no graph

Example 5: Find the center and radius of the circle

(a) x 2  y 2  2 x  6 y  7  0 (b) 5 x 2  5 y 2  30 x  20 y   15

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Graph of a Circle

Example 6: Sketch the graph each equation

1 1 1
(a) x 2  y 2  x y  (b) x 2  y 2  4 x  4 y  8  0
2 2 8

Example 7: Find the equation of the circle shown in each figure

(a) (b)

IV. Symmetry

The graph of an equation is symmetric with respect to:

x -axis if the replacement of y with

– y leaves the equation unchanged.

y -axis if the replacement of x with

– x leaves the equation unchanged.

origin if the replacement of x with

– x and of y with – y leaves the

equation unchanged.

Note that: Any relation having two of the symmetry must have the third one.

a  a ,  a  a2 , a b  ba a  b  b  a  .
2 2 2
Remember: and

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Example 8: Determine whether the graph of the equation is symmetry with respect to x-axis, y-axis
or origin.

(a) x  y 2  4 (b) x 2  y  6 (c) x2  x  y (d) x 2 y 3  xy  1

Some Additional Exercises

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