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Exam Questions Circles-Coordinate Geometry

Q1. (Q07 6664/01, June 2007)

The points A and B lie on a circle with centre P, as shown in Figure 3.

The point A has coordinates (1, –2) and the mid-point M of AB has coordinates (3, 1).
The line l passes through the points M and P.

(a) Find an equation for l.

(4)
Given that the x-coordinate of P is 6,

(b) use your answer to part (a) to show that the y-coordinate of P is –1,
(1)
(c) find an equation for the circle.
(4)

(Total 9 marks)
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Q2. (Q08 6664/01, Jan 2008)

A circle C has centre M (6, 4) and radius 3.

(a) Write down the equation of the circle in the form

(x − a)2 + (y − b)2 = r2
(2)

Figure 3 shows the circle C. The point T lies on the circle and the tangent at T passes through the point P
(12, 6). The line MP cuts the circle at Q.

(b) Show that the angle TMQ is 1.0766 radians to 4 decimal places.
(4)
The shaded region TPQ is bounded by the straight lines TP, QP and the arc TQ, as shown in Figure 3.

(c) Find the area of the shaded region TPQ. Give your answer to 3 decimal places.
(5)

(Total 9 marks)
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Q3. (Q05 6664/01, June 2008)

The circle C has centre (3, 1) and passes through the point P(8, 3).

(a) Find an equation for C.

(4)
(b) Find an equation for the tangent to C at P, giving your answer in the form ax + by + c = 0, where a, b
and c are integers.
(5)

(Total 9 marks)
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Q4. (Q05 6664/01, Jan 2009)

Figure 2

The points P(−3, 2), Q(9, 10) and R(a, 4) lie on the circle C, as shown in Figure 2. Given that PR is a
diameter of C,

(a) show that a = 13,

(3)
(b) find an equation for C.
(5)
(Total 8 marks)
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Q5. (Q06 6664/01, June 2009)

The circle C has equation

(a) Find the centre and the radius of C.

(5)
The point P(−1, 1) and the point Q(7, −5) both lie on C.

(b) Show that PQ is a diameter of C.

(2)
The point R lies on the positive y-axis and the angle PRQ = 90°.

(c) Find the coordinates of R.

(4)
(Total 11 marks)
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Q6. (Q08 6664/01, Jan 2010)

Figure 3

Figure 3 shows a sketch of the circle C with centre N and equation

(x − 2) + (y + 1)2 =

(a) Write down the coordinates of N.

(2)
(b) Find the radius of C.
(1)
The chord AB of C is parallel to the x-axis, lies below the x-axis and is of length 12 units as shown in
Figure 3.

(c) Find the coordinates of A and the coordinates of B.

(5)
(d) Show that angle ANB = 134.8°, to the nearest 0.1 of a degree.
(2)
The tangents to C at the points A and B meet at the point P.

(e) Find the length AP, giving your answer to 3 significant figures.
(2)

(Total 12 marks)
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Q7. (Q10 6664/01, June 2010)

The circle C has centre A(2,1) and passes through the point B(10, 7).

(a) Find an equation for C.

(4)
The line l1 is the tangent to C at the point B.

(b) Find an equation for l1.

(4)
The line l2 is parallel to l1 and passes through the mid-point of AB.

Given that l2 intersects C at the points P and Q,

(c) find the length of PQ, giving your answer in its simplest surd form.
(3)
(Total 11 marks)
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Q8. (Q09 6664/01, Jan 2011)

The points A and B have coordinates (−2, 11) and (8, 1) respectively.

Given that AB is a diameter of the circle C,

(a) show that the centre of C has coordinates (3, 6),

(1)
(b) find an equation for C.
(4)
(c) Verify that the point (10, 7) lies on C.
(1)
(d) Find an equation of the tangent to C at the point (10, 7), giving your answer in the form y = mx + c,
where m and c are constants.
(4)

(Total 10 marks)
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Q9. (Q04 6664/01, June 2011)

The circle C has equation

Find

(a) the coordinates of the centre of C,

(2)
(b) the radius of C,
(2)
(c) the coordinates of the points where C crosses the y-axis,
giving your answers as simplified surds.
(4)
(Total 8 marks)
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Q10. (Q02 6664/01, Jan 2012)

A circle C has centre (−1, 7) and passes through the point (0, 0). Find an equation for C.
(4)

(Total 4 marks)
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Q11. (Q03 6664/01, June 2012)

Figure 1

The circle C with centre T and radius r has equation

(a) Find the coordinates of the centre of C.

(3)
(b) Show that r = 5
(2)
The line L has equation x = 13 and crosses C at the points P and Q as shown in Figure 1.

(c) Find the y coordinate of P and the y coordinate of Q.

(3)
Given that, to 3 decimal places, the angle PTQ is 1.855 radians,(d) find the perimeter of the sector PTQ.
(3)
(Total 11 marks)
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Q12. (Q05 6664/01, Jan 2013)

The circle C has equation

x2 + y2 − 20x − 24y + 195 = 0

The centre of C is at the point M.

(a) Find
(i) the coordinates of the point M,
(ii) the radius of the circle C.
(5)
N is the point with coordinates (25, 32).

(b) Find the length of the line MN.

(2)
The tangent to C at a point P on the circle passes through point N.

(c) Find the length of the line NP.

(2)
(Total 9 marks)
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Q13. (Q10 6664/01, June 2013)

Figure 4

The circle C has radius 5 and touches the y-axis at the point (0, 9), as shown in Figure 4.

(a) Write down an equation for the circle C, that is shown in Figure 4.
(3)
A line through the point P(8, − 7) is a tangent to the circle C at the point T.

(b) (b) Find the length of PT.

(3)
(Total 6 marks)
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Q14. (Q10 6664/01R, June 2014)

The circle C, with centre A, passes through the point P with coordinates (−9, 8) and the point Q with
coordinates (15, −10).

Given that PQ is a diameter of the circle C,

(a) find the coordinates of A,

(2)
(b) find an equation for C.
(3)
A point R also lies on the circle C.
Given that the length of the chord PR is 20 units,

(c) find the length of the shortest distance from A to the chord PR.
Give your answer as a surd in its simplest form.
(2)
(d) Find the size of the angle ARQ, giving your answer to the nearest 0.1 of a degree.
(2)

(Total 9 marks)
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Q15. (Q02 6664/01, June 2015)

A circle C with centre at the point (2, –1) passes through the point A at (4, –5).

(a) Find an equation for the circle C.

(3)
(b) Find an equation of the tangent to the circle C at the point A, giving your answer in
the form ax + by + c = 0, where a, b and c are integers.
(4)

(Total for question = 7 marks)

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Q16. (Q03 6664/01, June 2016)

The circle C has centre P(7, 8) and passes through the point Q(10, 13), as shown in Figure 2.

(a) Find the length PQ, giving your answer as an exact value.
(2)
(b) Hence write down an equation for C.
(2)
The line l is a tangent to C at the point Q, as shown in Figure 2.

(c) Find an equation for l, giving your answer in the form ax + by + c = 0, where a, b and c are integers.
(4)

(Total for question = 8 marks)

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Q17. (Q05 6664/01, June 2017)

The circle C has equation

x2 + y2 − 10x + 6y + 30 = 0

Find

(a) the coordinates of the centre of C,

(2)
(b) the radius of C,
(2)
(c) the y coordinates of the points where the circle C crosses the line with equation x = 4, giving your
answers as simplified surds.
(3)

(Total for question = 7 marks)

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Q18. (Q05 6664/01, June 2018)

The circle C has equation

x2 + y2 − 2x + 14y = 0

Find

(a) the coordinates of the centre of C,

(2)
(b) the exact value of the radius of C,
(2)
(c) the y coordinates of the points where the circle C crosses the y-axis.
(2)
(d) Find an equation of the tangent to C at the point (2, 0), giving your answer in the form
ax + by + c = 0, where a, b and c are integers.
(4)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

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Q19. (Q05 6664/01, June 2019)

The circle C has equation

x2 + y2 − 3x + 6y = 1

Find

(a) the coordinates of the centre of C,

(2)
(b) the value of the radius of C.
(2)
The point P (5, −3) lies on the circle C.

(c) Find an equation of the tangent to C at the point P.

(2)

(Total for question = 6 marks)

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Q20. (Q15 WMA01/01, Jan 2014)

Figure 3

The points X and Y have coordinates (0, 3) and (6, 11) respectively. XY is a chord of a circle C with
centre Z, as shown in Figure 3.

(a) Find the gradient of XY.

(2)
The point M is the midpoint of XY.

(b) Find an equation for the line which passes through Z and M.
(5)
Given that the y coordinate of Z is 10,

(c) find the x coordinate of Z,

(2)
(d) find the equation of the circle C, giving your answer in the form

x2 + y2 + ax + by + c = 0

where a, b and c are constants.

(5)

(Total for question = 14 marks)

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Q21. (Q11 WMA01/01, June 2014)

Figure 4

Figure 4 shows a sketch of the circle C with centre Q and equation

x2 + y2 − 6x + 2y + 5 = 0

(a) Find
(i) the coordinates of Q,
(ii) the exact value of the radius of C.
(5)
The tangents to C from the point T (8, 4) meet C at the points M and N, as shown in Figure 4.

(b) Show that the obtuse angle MQN is 2.498 radians to 3 decimal places.
(5)
The region R, shown shaded in Figure 4, is bounded by the tangent TN, the minor arc NM, and the
tangent MT.

(c) Find the area of region R.

(5)

(Total for question = 15 marks)

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Q22. (Q07 WMA01/01, Jan 2015)

The circle C has equation

x2 + y2 + 10x – 6y + 18 = 0

Find

(a) the coordinates of the centre of C,

(2)
(b) the radius of C.
(2)
The circle C meets the line with equation x = –3 at two points.

(c) Find the exact values for the y coordinates of these two points, giving your answers as
fully simplified surds.
(4)

(Total for question = 8 marks)

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Q23. (Q15 WMA01/01, June 2015)

The circle shown in Figure 4 has centre P (5, 6) and passes through the point A (12, 7).

Find

(a) the exact radius of the circle,

(2)
(b) an equation of the circle,
(3)
(c) an equation of the tangent to the circle at the point A.
(4)
The circle also passes through the points B (0, 1) and C (4, 13).

(d) Use the cosine rule on triangle ABC to find the size of the angle BCA, giving your answer in degrees
to 3 significant figures.
(5)

(Total for question = 14 marks)

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Q24. (Q15 WMA01/01, Jan 2016)

The points A and B have coordinates (−8, −8) and (12, 2) respectively.
AB is the diameter of a circle C.

(a) Find an equation for the circle C.

(6)

The point (4, 8) also lies on C.

(b) Find an equation of the tangent to C at the point (4, 8), giving your answer in the form ax + by + c = 0
(4)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

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Q25. (Q12 WMA01/01, June 2016)

Figure 3

Figure 3 shows a circle C

C touches the y-axis and has centre at the point (a, 0) where a is a positive constant.

(a) Write down an equation for C in terms of a

(2)
Given that the point P(4, –3) lies on C,

(b) find the value of a

(3)

(Total for question = 5 marks)

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Q26. (Q13 WMA01/01, Oct 2016)

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Q27. (Q02 WMA01/01, Jan 2017)

A circle, with centre C and radius r, has equation

x2 + y2 − 8x + 4 y − 12 = 0

Find

(a) the coordinates of C,

(2)
(b) the exact value of r.
(2)
The circle cuts the y-axis at the points A and B.

(c) Find the coordinates of the points A and B.

(3)

(Total for question = 7 marks)

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Q28. (Q14 WMA01/01, June 2017)

Figure 5

Figure 5 shows a sketch of the circle C1

The points A(1, 4) and B(7, 8) lie on C1

Given that AB is a diameter of the circle C1

(a) find the coordinates for the centre of C1

(2)
(b) find the exact radius of C1 simplifying your answer.
(2)
Two distinct circles C2 and C3 each have centre (0, 0).

Given that each of these circles touch circle C1

(c) find the equation of circle C2 and the equation of circle C3

(4)

(Total for question = 8 marks)

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Q29. (Q11 WMA01/01, Jan 2018)

The circle C has equation

x2 + y2 − 8x − 10y + 16 = 0

The centre of C is at the point T.

(a) Find
(i) the coordinates of the point T,
(ii) the radius of the circle C.
(4)
The point M has coordinates (20, 12).

(b) Find the exact length of the line MT.

(2)
Point P lies on the circle C such that the tangent at P passes through the point M.

(c) Find the exact area of triangle MTP, giving your answer as a simplified surd.
(3)

(Total for question = 9 marks)

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Q30. (Q13 WMA01/01, June 2018)

The point A(9, –13) lies on a circle C with centre the origin and radius r.

(a) Find the exact value of r.

(2)
(b) Find an equation of the circle C.
(1)
A straight line through point A has equation 2y + 3x = k, where k is a constant.

(c) Find the value of k.

(1)
This straight line cuts the circle again at the point B.

(d) Find the exact coordinates of point B.

(6)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

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Q31. (Q14 WMA01/01, Oct 2018)

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Q32. (Q10 WMA01/01, June 2019)

The circle C has equation

x2 + y2 + 4x + py + 123 = 0

where p is a constant.

Given that the point (1, 16) lies on C,

(a) find
(i) the value of p,
(ii) the coordinates of the centre of C,
(iii) the radius of C.
(5)
(b) Find an equation of the tangent to C at the point (1, 16), giving your answer in the form ax + by + c =
0, where a, b and c are integers to be found.
(4)

(Total for question = 9 marks)

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Q33. (Q08 WMA01/01, Oct 2019)

A circle C has equation x2 + y2 − 6x − 14y + k = 0 , where k is constant.

(a) Find the coordinates of the centre of C.

(2)
(b) Find the radius of C when k = −32
(2)
(c) Find the range of values of k for which C lies completely within the first quadrant.
(4)

(Total for question = 8 marks)

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Q34. (Q11 WMA01/01, Jan 2020)

Figure 3 shows a sketch of the circle C with equation

x2 + y2 – 6x + 9y + 18 = 0

(a) Find (i) the coordinates of the centre of C

(ii) the exact value of the radius of C
(3)
Line l is parallel to the y-axis and intersects C at points P and Q.

Given that length PQ is 5

(b) find two distinct equations for l.

(4)

(Total for question = 7 marks)

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Q35. (Q15 WMA01/01, Oct 2020)

Figure 4 shows a sketch of

• the circle C1 with equation x2 + (y – 3)2 = 26

• the circle C2 with equation (x – 6)2 + y2 = 17

The points S and Q are the centres of C1 and C2 respectively.

(a) Find the length SQ, writing your answer as a fully simplified surd.
(3)
The circles meet at points P and R shown on Figure 4.

(b) Using algebra,

(i) show that the coordinates of the points P and R satisfy
y = 2x – 6
(ii) find the coordinates of point P and the coordinates of point R.
(7)
(c) Hence find the exact area of the kite SPQR.
(3)

(Total for question = 13 marks)

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Q36. (Q07 WMA12/01, Specimen papers)

The circle with equation

x2 + y2 – 20x – 16y + 139 = 0

had centre C and radius r.

(a) Find the coordinates of C.

(2)
(b) Show that r = 5
(2)
The line with equation x = 13 crosses the circle at the points P and Q as shown in Figure 1.

(c) Find the y coordinate of P and the y coordinate of Q.

(3)
A tangent to the circle from O touches the circle at point X.

(d) Find, in surd form, the length OX.

(3)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

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Q37. (Q02 WMA12/01, June 2019)

A circle C has equation

x2 + y2 + 4x – 10y – 21 = 0

Find

(a) (i) the coordinates of the centre of C,

(ii) the exact value of the radius of C.
(3)
The point P(5, 4) lies on C.

(b) Find the equation of the tangent to C at P, writing your answer in the form y = mx + c, where m and c
are constants to be found.
(4)

(Total for question = 7 marks)

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Q38. (Q06 WMA12/01, Oct 2019)

Figure 1

Figure 1 shows a sketch of a circle C with centre N(4, −1).

The line l with equation is a tangent to C at the point P.

Find

(a) the equation of line PN in the form y = mx + c, where m and c are constants,
(2)
(b) the equation of C.
(5)

(Total for question = 7 marks)

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Q39. (Q06 WMA12/01, Jan 2020)

The circle C has equation

x2 + y2 + 6x – 4y – 14 = 0

(a) Find
(i) the coordinates of the centre of C,
(ii) the exact radius of C.
(3)
The line with equation y = k, where k is a constant, is a tangent to C.

(b) Find the possible values of k.

(2)
The line with equation y = p, where p is a negative constant, is a chord of C.

Given that the length of this chord is 4 units,

(c) find the value of p.

(3)

(Total for question = 8 marks)

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Q40. (Q04 WMA12/01, Oct 2020)

The points P and Q have coordinates (−11, 6) and (−3, 12) respectively.

Given that PQ is a diameter of the circle C,

(a) (i) find the coordinates of the centre of C,

(ii) find the radius of C,
(4)
(b) Hence find an equation of C.
(2)
(c) Find an equation of the tangent to C at the point Q giving your answer in the form ax + by + c = 0
where a, b and c are integers to be found.
(3)

(Total for question = 9 marks)

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Q41. (Q09 WMA12/01, Jan 2021)

A circle C has equation

(x − k)2 + ( y − 2k)2 = k + 7

where k is a positive constant.

(a) Write down, in terms of k,

(i) the coordinates of the centre of C,
(ii) the radius of C.
(2)
Given that the point P(2, 3) lies on C

(b) (i) show that 5k2 − 17k + 6 = 0

(ii) hence find the possible values of k.
(3)
The tangent to the circle at P intersects the x-axis at point T.

Given that k < 2

(c) calculate the exact area of triangle OPT.

(5)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

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Q42. (Q06 WMA12/01, June 2021)

A circle has equation

x2 – 6x + y2 + 8y + k = 0

where k is a positive constant.

Given that the x-axis is a tangent to this circle,

(a) find the value of k.

(3)
The circle meets the coordinate axes at the points R, S and T.

(b) Find the exact area of the triangle RST.

(4)

(Total for question = 7 marks)

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Q43. (Q06 WMA12/01, Oct 2021)

(i) The circle C1 has equation

x2 + y2 + 10x − 12y = k where k is a constant

(a) Find the coordinates of the centre of C1
(2)
(b) State the possible range in values for k.
(2)
(ii) The point P(p, 0), the point Q(−2, 10) and the point R(8, −14) lie on a different circle, C2
Given that

• p is a positive constant
• QR is a diameter of C2
find the exact value of p.
(4)

(Total for question = 8 marks)

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Q44. (Q06 WMA12/01, Jan 2022)

The points P(23, 14), Q(15, –30) and R(–7, –26) lie on the circle C, as shown in Figure 1.

(a) Show that angle PQR = 90°

(2)
(b) Hence, or otherwise, find
(i) the centre of C,
(ii) the radius of C.
(3)
Given that the point S lies on C such that the distance QS is greatest,

(c) find an equation of the tangent to C at S, giving your answer in the form ax + by + c = 0, where a, b
and c are integers to be found.
(3)

(Total for question = 8 marks)

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Q45. (Q10 WMA12/01, June 2022)

The circle C has centre X (3, 5) and radius r

The line l has equation y = 2x + k, where k is a constant.

(a) Show that l and C intersect when

5x2 + (4k − 26)x + k2 − 10k + 34 − r2 = 0

(3)
Given that l is a tangent to C,

(b) show that 5r2 = (k + p)2, where p is a constant to be found.

(3)

The line l

• cuts the y-axis at the point A

• touches the circle C at the point B

as shown in Figure 2.

Given that AB = 2r

(c) find the value of k

(6)

(Total for question = 12 marks)

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Q46. (Q09 WMA12/01, Oct 2022)

In this question you must show detailed reasoning.

Solutions relying entirely on calculator technology are not acceptable.

Figure 3 shows

• the curve C1 with equation y = x3 – 5x2 + 3x + 14

• the circle C2 with centre T

The point T is the minimum turning point of C1

Using Figure 3 and calculus,

(a) find the coordinates of T

(3)
The curve C1 intersects the circle C2 at the point A with x coordinate 2

(b) Find an equation of the circle C2

(3)
The line l shown in Figure 3, is the tangent to circle C2 at A

(c) Show that an equation of l is

(3)
The region R, shown shaded in Figure 3, is bounded by C1, l and the y-axis.

(d) Find the exact area of R.

(3)

(Total for question = 12 marks)

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Q47. (Q06 WMA12/01, Jan 2023)

The circle C has equation

x2 + y2 + 8x – 4y = 0

(a) Find
(i) the coordinates of the centre of C,
(ii) the exact radius of C.
(3)
The point P lies on C.

Given that the tangent to C at P has equation x + 2y + 10 = 0

(b) find the coordinates of P

(4)
(c) Find the equation of the normal to C at P, giving your answer in the form y = mx + c where m and c
are
integers to be found.
(3)

(Total for question = 10 marks)

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Q48. (Q03 WMA12/01, June 2023)

A circle C has centre (2, 5)

Given that the point P(8, −3) lies on C

(a) (i) find the radius of C

(ii) find an equation for C
(3)
(b) Find the equation of the tangent to C at P giving your answer in the form ax + by + c = 0 where a, b
and c are integers to be found.
(4)

(Total for question = 7 marks)