JEE-Main (Previous Year Questions)

1. If P and Q are the points of intersection of the circles x 2 + y2 + 3x + 7y + 2p 5 = 0 and

x + y + 2x + 2y
2 2
p = 0, then there is a circle passing through P, Q and (1, 1) for:
2

[JEE(Main)-2009]
(1) all except one value of p (2) all except two values of p
(3) exactly one value of p (4) all values of p

2. The circle x2 + y2 = 4x + 8y + 5 intersects the line 3x 4y = m at two distinct points if:

[JEE(Main)-2010]
(1) 35 < m < 15 (2) 15 < m < 65
(3) 35 < m < 85 (4) 85 < m < 35

3. The two circles x2 + y2 = ax and x2 + y2 = c2(c > 0) touch each other if: [JEE(Main)-2011]
(1) 2|a| = c (2) |a| = c (3) a = 2c (4) |a| = 2c

4. The equation of the circle passing through the point (1, 0) and (0, 1) and having the smallest
radius is: [JEE(Main)-2011]
(1) x + y
2 2
2x 2y + 1 = 0 (2) x + y
2 2
x y=0
(3) x + y + 2x + 2y
2 2
7=0 (4) x + y + x + y
2 2
2=0

5. The length of the diameter of the circle which touches the x-axis at the point (1, 0) and passes
through the point (2, 3) is: [JEE(Main)-2012]
10 3 6 5
(1) (2) (3) (4)
3 5 5 3

6. The circle passing through (1, 2) and touching the axis of x at (3, 0) also passes through the
point: [JEE(Main)-2013]
(1) ( 5, 2) (2) (2, 5) (3) (5, 2) (4) ( 2, 5)

7. Let C be the circle with centre at (1, 1) and radius = 1. If T is the circle centered at (0, y), passing
through origin and touching the circle C externally, then the radius of T is equal to:
[JEE(Main)-2014]
1 1 3 3
(1) (2) (3) (4)
2 4 2 2

8. Locus of the image of the point (2, 3) in the line (2x 3y + 4) + k (x 2y + 3) = 0, k  R, is a:

[JEE(Main)-2015]
(1) straight line parallel to x-axis (2) straight line parallel to y-axis
(3) circle of radius 2 (4) circle of radius 3

Circle 101
 9. The number of common tangents to the circles
x2 + y2 4x 6y 12 = 0 and x2 + y2 + 6x + 18y + 26 = 0, is: [JEE(Main)-2015]
(1) 1 (2) 2 (3) 3 (4) 4

10. The centres of those circles which touch the circle, x2 + y2 8x 8y 4 = 0, externally and also
touch the x-axis, lie on: [JEE(Main)-2016]
(1) an ellipse which is not a circle (2) a hyperbola
(3) a parabola (4) a circle

11. If one of the diameters of the circle, given by the equation, x2 + y2 4x + 6y 12 = 0, is a chord
of a circle S, whose centre is at ( 3, 2), then the radius of S is: [JEE(Main)-2016]

(1) 5 3 (2) 5 (3) 10 (4) 5 2

12. Let the orthocentre and centroid of a triangle be A ( 3, 5) and B(3,3) respectively. If C is the
circumcentre of this triangle, then the radius of the circle having line segment AC as diameter,
is: [JEE(Main)-2018]
5 3 5
(1) 3 (2) (3) 10 (4) 2 10
2 2

13. Three circles of radii, a, b, c (a < b < c) touch each other externally, If they have x-axis as a
common tangent, then: [JEE(Main)-2019]
1 1 1
(1) a, b, c are in A.P. (2) = +
a b c
1 1 1
(3) a, b, c are in A.P. (4) = +
b a c

14. If a circle C passing through the point (4,0) touches the circle x 2 + y2 + 4x 6y = 12 externally
at the point (1, 1), then the radius of C is: [JEE(Main)-2019]
(1) 2 5 (2) 57 (3) 4 (4) 5

15. If a variable line, 3x + 4y  = 0 is such that the two circles x2 + y2 2x 2y + 1 = 0 and

x2 + y2 18x 2y +78 = 0 are on its opposite sides, then the set of all values of  is the interval:
[JEE(Main)-2019]
(1) (2, 17) (2) [12, 21] (3) [13, 23] (4) (23,31)

16. If a circle of radius R passes through the origin O and intersects the coordinate axes at A and
B, then the locus of the foot of perpendicular from O on AB is: [JEE(Main)-2019]
(1) (x + y ) (x + y) = R xy
2 2 2
(2) (x + y ) = 4R x y
2 2 3 2 2 2

(3) (x2 + y2)2 = 4Rx2y2 (4) (x2 + y2)2 = 4R2x2y2

102 Circle
17. Three circles of radii a, b, c(a < b < c) touch each other externally. If they have x-axis as a
Common tangent, then: [JEE(Main)-2019]
1 1 1
(1) = + (2) a, b, c are in A. P.
a b c
1 1 1
(3) a, b, c are in AP (4) = +
a b c

18. If the area of an equilateral triangle inscribed in the circle, x 2 + y2 + 10x + 12y + c = 0 is 27 3
sq. units then c is equal to: [JEE(Main)-2019]
(1) 20 (2) 25 (3) 13 (4) 25

19. Two circles with equal radii are intersecting at the points (0, 1) and (0, 1). The tangent at the
point (0, 1) to one of the circles passes through the centre of the other circle. Then the distance
between the centres of these circles is: [JEE(Main)-2019]
(1) 1 (2) 2 (3) 2 2 (4) 2

20. Let O(0, 0) and A(0, 1) be two fixed points. Then the locus of a point P such that the perimeter
of AOP is 4, is: [JEE(Main)-2019]
(1) 8x 2
9y + 9y = 18
2
(2) 9x + 8y
2 2
8y = 16
(3) 8x + 9y 2 2
9y = 18 (4) 9x 2
8y + 8y = 16
2

21. If a tangent to the circle x2 + y2 = 1 intersects the coordinate axes at distinct points P and Q,
then the locus of the mid-point of PQ is: [JEE(Main)-2019]
(1) x + y
2 2
2xy = 0 (2) x + y
2 2
16x y = 0
2 2

(3) x + y
2 2
4x y = 0
2 2
(4) x + y
2 2
2x2y2 = 0

22. Let the tangents drawn from the origin to the circle, x2 + y2 8x 4y + 16 = 0 touch it at the
points A and B. The (AB)2 is equal to: [JEE(Main)-2020]
52 32 56 64
(1) (2) (3) (4)
5 5 5 5

23. The diameter of the circle, whose centre lies on the line x + y = 2 in the first quadrant and
which touches both the lines x = 3 and y = 2, is _______. [JEE(Main)-2020]

24. Let PQ be a diameter of the circle x2 + y2 = 9. If  and  are the lengths of the perpendiculars
from P and Q on the straight line, x + y = 2 respectively, then the maximum value of  is ____.
[JEE(Main)-2020]

25. Let A (1, 4) and B (1, 5) be two points. Let P be a point on the circle (x − 1)2 + (y − 1)2 = 1 such
that (PA)2 + (PB)2 have maximum value, then the points P, A and B lie on: [JEE(Main)-2021]
(1) A parabola (2) a straight line (3) a hyperbola (4) an ellipse

Circle 103
 26. The minimum distance between any two points P1 and P2 while considering point P1 on one circle
and point P2
x2 + y2 − 10x − 10y + 41 = 0
x2 + y2 − 24x − 10y + 160 = 0 is ______ . [JEE(Main)-2021]

27. Let a circle C ; (x − h)2 + (y − k)2 = r 2 ,k  0 , touch the x-axis at (1, 0). If the lien x + y = 0 intersects
the circle C at P and Q such that the length of the chord PQ is 2, then the value of h + k + r is
equal to_______, [JEE(Main)-2021]

28. A circle touches both the y-axis and the line x + y = 0. Then the locus of its centre is :
[JEE(Main)-2022]
(1) y = 2x (2) x = 2y (3) y2 − x2 = 2xy (4) x2 y2 = 2xy

29. If the tangents drawn at the point O(0, 0) and P (1 + 5, 2) on the circle x2 + y2 − 2x − 4y = 0
interest at the point Q, then the area of the triangle OPQ is equal to : [JEE(Main)-2022]
3+ 5 4+2 5 5+3 5 7+3 5
(1) (2) (3) (4)
2 2 2 2

30. If one of the diameters of the circle x2 + y2 − 2 2x − 2y + 14 = 0 is a chord of the circle

(x − 2 2)2 + (y − 2 2)2 = r2, then the value of r2 is equal to. [JEE(Main)-2022]

11
31. Let C be the centre of the circle x2 + y2 − x + 2y = and P be a point on the circle. A line passes
4

through the point C, makes an angle of with the line CP and intersects the circle at the points
4
Q and R. Then the area of the triangle PQR (in unit2) is: [JEE(Main)-2022]
 
(1) 2 (2) 2 2 (3) 8 sin   (4) 8 cos  
8 8

32. Let the mirror image of a circle c1 : x2 + y 2 − 2x − 6y +  = 0 in line

y = x + 1 be c2 : 5x + 5y + 10gx + 10 fy + 38 = 0. If r is the radius of circle C 2, then  + 6r2 is

2 2

equal to ______. [JEE(Main)-2022]

104 Circle
 ANSWER KEY

1. (1) 2. (1) 3. (2) 4. (2) 5. (1) 6. (3) 7. (2)

8. (3) 9. (3) 10. (3) 11. (1) 12. (1) 13. (2) 14. (4)

15. (2) 16. (2) 17. (1) 18. (2) 19. (4) 20. (3) 21. (3)

22. (4) 23. 3 24. 7 25. (2) 26. 1 27. 7 28. (4)

29. (3) 30. 10 31. (2) 32. 12

Circle 105
 JEE-Advanced (Previous Year Questions)

1. Tangents drawn from the point P(1, 8) to the circle x2 + y2 6x 4y 11 = 0 touch the circle at
the points A and B. The equation of the circumcircle of the triangle PAB is:
[JEE(Advanced)-2009]
(A) x2 + y2 + 4x 6y + 19 = 0 (B) x2 + y2 4x 10y + 19 = 0
(C) x + y
2 2
2x + 6y 29 = 0 (D) x + y
2 2
6x 4y + 19 = 0

2. Two parallel chords of a circle of radius 2 are at a distance 3 + 1 apart. If the chords subtend
 2
at the center, angles of and , where k > 0, then the value of [k] is:
k k
[JEE(Advanced)-2010]
[Note : [k] denotes the largest integer less than or equal to k]

3. The circle passing through the point ( 1, 0) and touching the y-axis at (0, 2) also passes through
the point: [JEE(Advanced)-2011]
 3   5   3 5
(A)  − , 0  (B)  − , 2  (C)  − ,  (D) ( 4, 0)
 2   2   2 2

4. The straight line 2x 3y = 1 divides the circular region x2 + y2  6 into two parts.
 3   5 3   1 1   1 1  
If S =  2,  ,  ,  ,  , −  ,  ,   , [JEE(Advanced)-2011]
 4   2 4   4 4   8 4  
then the number of point(s) in S lying inside the smaller part is
 3   5 3   1 1   1 1  
S =  2,  ,  ,  ,  , −  ,  ,   ,
 4   2 4   4 4   8 4  

5. The locus of the mid-point of the chord of contact of tangents drawn from points lying on the
straight line 4x 5y = 20 to the circle x2 + y2 = 9 is [JEE(Advanced)-2012]
(A) 20(x2 + y2) 36x + 45y = 0 (B) 20(x2 + y2) + 36x 45y = 0
(C) 36(x + y )
2 2
20x + 45y = 0 (D) 36(x + y ) + 20x
2 2
45y = 0

Paragraph for Question 6 to 7

A tangent PT is drawn to the circle x2 + y2 = 4 at the point P( 3 , 1). A straight line L, perpendicular
to PT is a tangent to the circle (x 3)2 + y2 = 1. [JEE(Advanced)-2012]

6. A common tangent of the two circles is:

(A) x = 4 (B) y = 2 (C) x + 3y=4 (D) x + 2 3y=6

7. A possible equation of L is
(A) x 3y=1 (B) x + 3y=1 (C) x 3y= 1 (D) x + 3 y=5

106 Circle
8. Circle(s) touching x-axis at a distance 3 from the origin and having an intercept of length 2 7
on y-axis is (are): [JEE(Advanced)-2013]
(A) x + y
2 2
6x + 8y + 9 = 0 (B) x + y2 2
6x + 7y + 9 = 0
(C) x + y
2 2
6x 8y + 9 = 0 (D) x + y2 2
6x 7y + 9 = 0

9. A circle S passes through the point (0, 1) and is orthogonal to the circles (x 1)2 + y2 = 16 and
x2 + y2 = 1. Then: [JEE(Advanced)-2014]
(A) radius of S is 8 (B) radius of S is 7
(C) centre of S is ( 7, 1) (D) centre of S is ( 8, 1)

10. The circle C1 : x2 + y2 = 3, with centre at O, intersects the parabola x2 = 2y at the point P in the
first quadrant. Let the tangent to the circle C1 at P touches other two circles C2 and C3 at R2
and R3, respectively. Suppose C2 and C3 have equal radii 2 3 and centers Q2 and Q3, respectively.
If Q2 and Q3 lie on the y-axis, then [JEE(Advanced)-2016]
(A) Q2Q3 = 12 (B) R2R3 = 4 6

(C) area of the triangle OR2R3 is 6 2 (D) area of the triangle PQ2Q3 is 4 2

11. Let RS be the diameter of the circle x2 + y2 = 1, where S is the point (1, 0). Let P be a variable

point (other than R and S) on the circle and tangents to the circle at S and P meet at the point

Q. The normal to the circle at P intersects a line drawn through Q parallel to RS at point E. Then

the locus of E passes through the point(s): [JEE(Advanced)-2016]

1 1   1 1 1 1  1 1
(A)  3 ,  (B)  ,  (C)  3 , – 
 (D)  , – 
 3 4 2  3 4 2

12. For how many values of p, the circle x2 + y2 + 2x + 4y p = 0 and the coordinate axes have
exactly three common points? [JEE(Advanced)-2017]

Paragraph Question 13 to 14
[JEE(Advanced)-2018]
Let S be the circle in the xy-plane defined by the equation x + y = 4.2 2

(There are two questions based on PARAGRAPH , the question given below is one of them)

13. Let E1E2 and F1F2 be the chords of S passing through the point P0(1, 1) and parallel to the x-axis
and the y-axis, respectively. Let G1G2 be the chord of S passing through P 0 and having slope 1.
Let the tangents to S at E1 and E2 meet at E3, the tangents to S at F1 and F2 meet at F3, and the
tangents to S at G1 and G2 meet at G3. Then, then, the points E3, F3, and G3 lie on the curve:
(A) x +y = 4 (B) (x 4)2 + (y 4)2 = 16
(C) (x 4)(y 4) = 4 (D) xy = 4

Circle 107
 14. Let P be a point on the circle S with both coordinates being positive. Let the tangent to S at P
intersect the coordinate axes at the points M and N. Then, the mid-point of the line segment
MN must lie on the curve
(A) (x + y)2 = 3xy (B) x2/3 + y2/3 = 24/3 (C) x2 + y2 = 2xy (D) x2 + y2 = x2y2

15. Let T be the line passing through the points P( 2, 7) and Q(2, 5). Let F1 be the set of all pairs
of circles (S1, S2) such that T is tangent to S1 at P and tangent to S2 at Q, and also such that S1
and S2 touch each other at a point, say, M. Let E1 be the set representing the locus of M as the
pair (S1, S2) varies in F1. Let the set of all straight line segments joining a pair of distinct points
of E1 and passing through the point R(1, 1) be F2. Let E2 be the set of the mid-points of the line
segments in the set F2. Then, which of the following statement(s) is (are) TRUE:
[JEE(Advanced)-2018]
4 7
(A) The point ( 2, 7) lies in E1 (B) The point  ,  does NOT lie in E2
5 5
1   3
(C) The point  ,1 lies in E2 (D) The point  0,  does NOT lie in E1
2   2

16. A line y = mx + 1 intersects the circle (x 3)2 + (y + 2)2 = 25 at the points P and Q. If the midpoint
3
of the line segment PQ has x-coordinate , then which one of the following options is correct?
5
[JEE(Advanced)-2019]
(A) 4  m < 6 (B) 6  m < 8 (C) 3  m < 1 (D) 2  m < 4

17. Let the point B be the reflection of the point A(2, 3) with respect to the line 8x 6y 23 = 0.
Let  A and B be circles of radii 2 and 1 with centres A and B respectively. Let T be a common
tangent to the circles  A and B such that both the circles are on the same side of T. If C is
the point of intersection of T and the line passing through A and B, then the length of the line
segment AC is___. [JEE(Advanced)-2019]

5
18. Let O be the centre of the circle x2 + y2 = r2, where r > . Suppose PQ is a chord of this circle
2
and the equation of the line passing through P and Q is 2x + 4y = 5. If the centre of the
circumcircle of the triangle OPQ lie on the line x + 2y = 4, then the value of r is_________.
[JEE(Advanced)-2020]

19. Consider a triangle  whose two sides lie on the x -axis and the line x + y + 1 = 0 . If the
orthocenter of  is (1,1) , then the equation of the circle passing through the vertices of the
triangle  is: [JEE(Advanced)-2021]
2 2 2 2
(A) x + y − 3x + y = 0 (B) x + y + x + 3y = 0
2 2 2 2
(C) x + y + 2y − 1 = 0 (D) x + y + x + y = 0


20. Let ABC be the triangle with AB = 1, AC = 3 and ∠BAC = . If a circle of radius r > 0 touches
2
the sides AB, AC and also touches internally the circumcircle of the triangle ABC, then the
value of r is _____________. [JEE(Advanced)-2022]

108 Circle
 ANSWER KEY

1. (B) 2. 3 3. (A) 4. 2 5. (A) 6. (D) 7. (A)

8. (AC) 9. (BC) 10. (ABC) 11. (AC) 12. 2 13. (A) 14. (D)

15. (BD) 16. (D) 17. 10.00 18. 2 19. (B) 20. 00.84

Circle 109