FI I TJEE PRACTICE SHEET - CIRCLE

L I M I T E D

NAME BATCH:

1. Equations of the circle in various forms

(i) The simplest equation of the circle is x2 + y2 = r2 whose centre is (0, 0) and radius r
(ii) The equation (x − h)2 + (y − k)2 = r2 represents a circle with centre (h, k) and radius r
(iii) The equation x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is the general equation of a circle with centre
(−g, −f) and radius g2 + f 2 − c ,
case(i) If g2 + f2 − c > 0 then real circle is possible
case (ii) if g2 + f2 − c = 0 then the circle formed is called point circle
case (iii) if g2 + f2 − c < 0 then no real circle is possible.

Note:- A general equation of second degree

ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 in x, y represents a circle if
(i) coefficient of x2 = coefficient of y2 i.e. a = b  0
(ii) coefficient of xy is zero i.e. h = 0

(iv) Equation of the circle with points P(x1, y1) and Q(x2, y2) as extremities of a diameter is
(x −x1) (x − x2) + (y − y1) (y − y2) = 0

2. Intercepts made by a circle on the axis Y

(i) Length of the intercept made by the circle D
x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 on
(a) x-axis = AB = 2 g2 − c C
X' O A X
B
(b) y-axis = CD = 2 f − c 2

(ii) Intercept are always positive

(iii) if the circle touches x-axis, then AB = 0  c = g2 Y'

(iv) if the circle touches y-axis, then CD = 0  c = f 2

(v) If the circle touches both the axes, then
AB = 0 = CD  c = g2 = f 2

3. The parametric coordinates of any point on the circle

(x − h)2 + (y − k)2 = r2 are given by (h + rcos; k + rsin), (0   < 2)
In particular co-ordinates of any point on the circle x2 + y2 = r2
are (rcos, rsin); (0   < 2)

4. The position of a point with respect to a circle:

The point P(x1, y1) lies outside, on or inside a circle S = x 2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0
according as S1 = x12 + y12 + 2gx1 + 2fy1 + c  0, = 0,  0

5. Equations of tangents and Normals:-

(A) The equation of the tangent to the circle x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 at the point (x1, y1) is
y +f
xx1 + yy1 + g(x + x1) + f(y + y1) = 0 and that of the normal is y − y1 = 1 ( x − x1 )
x1 + g
In particular, the equation of tangent to the circle x2 + y2 = r2 at the point (x1, y1) is xx1 + yy1
x y
= r2 and that of the normal =
x1 y1
(B) Normal to a circle passes through its centre.

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(C) The condition that the straight line y = mx + c is a tangent to the circle x 2 + y2 = a2 is
 −a2m a2 
c2 = a2(1 + m2) and the point of contact is  ,  i.e. y = mx  a 1 + m2 is always a
 c c 
tangent to the circle is x2 + y2 = a2 what ever be the value of m.
(D) The locus of point of intersection of two perpendicular tangents is called director circle. The
director circle of the circle x2 + y2 = a2 is x2 + y2 = 2a2

6. Important Results
(A) The equation of the chord of the circle S  0, whose mid point (x1, y1) is T = S1
(B) The length of the tangent from a point (x1, y1) out side the circle S = 0, to the circle is S1
(C) The joint equation of a pair of tangent drawn from the point A (x1, y1) to the circle S = 0 is
T2 = SS1
(D) Equation of the chord of contact of the circle S = 0 is T = 0

7. Orthogonal Intersection of two circles:

The condition for the two circle S1 = x2 + y2 + 2g1x + 2f1y + c1 = 0 and S2 = x2 + y2 + 2g2x +
2f2y + c2 = 0 to cut each other orthogonally is 2g1g2 + 2f1f2 = c1 + c2

8. Radical Axis: - The radical axis of two circles is the locus of points from which tangents to
the two circles are of equal lengths.
If S1  x2 + y2 + 2g1x + 2f1y + c1 and S2  x2 + y2 + 2g2x + 2f2y + c2
Then the equation of radical axis of the two circles is S 1 − S2 = 0

Case:- (i) If two circles intersect, then the redical axis is the common chord of the two circles.
Case:- (ii) If two circles touch each other then the radical axis is the common tangent of the
two circles at the point of contact.
Note:- (1) Radical axis is always perpendicular to the line joining the centre of the two circles.
(2) The common point of intersection of the radical axis of three circles taken two at a
time is called the radical centre of the three circles.

9. Family of Circles
1. If S  x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 and S  x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 are two intersecting
circles, then S + S = 0,   −1, is the equation of the family of circles passing through the
points of intersection of S = 0 and S = 0
2. If S  x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is a circle which is intersected by the straight line   ax +
by + c = 0 at two real and distinct points, then S +  = 0 is the equation of the family of
circles passing through the points of intersection of S = 0 and  = 0. If  = 0 touches S = 0
at P, then S +  = 0 is the equation of the family of circles, each touching  = 0 at P.
3. The equation of a family of circles passing through two given points (x 1, y1) and (x2, y2) can
be written in the form.
x y 1
(x − x1)(x − x2) + (y − y1)(y − y2) +  x1 y1 1 = 0 where  is a parameter.
x2 y2 1
4. The equation of the family of circles which touch the line y − y1 = m(x − x1) at (x1, y1) for any
value of m is (x − x1)2 + (y − y2)2 + [(y − y1) − m(x − x1)] = 0. If m is infinite, the equation is
(x − x1)2 + (y − y1)2 + (x − x1) = 0.

10. External and Internal contacts of Circles

The two circles having centres at C1(x1, y1) and C2(x2, y2) and radii r1 and r2 respectively will
(a) Intersect in two real and distinct points if and only if
r1
r1 − r2  C1C2  r1 + r2 C2
C1 r2

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 (b) touch each other externally if and only if C 1C2 = r1 + r2 and
r1 r2
their point of contact C is given by
C2
rx +r x ry +r y  C1
C 1 2 2 1, 1 2 2 1
 r1 + r2 r1 + r2 

(c) touch each other internally if and only If C 1C2 = r1 − r2 and

their point of contact C is given by C1 C2 r2
C
r x −r x r y −r y  r1
C   1 2 2 1, 1 2 2 1 .
 r1 − r2 r1 − r2 

(d) One circle lies outside the other if C1C2 > r1 + r2.
r1 r2

C1 C2

(e) One circle is contained in the other if C 1C2 < r1 − r2

r2 r1
C
C2 C1

11. Common tangents to two circles:

(a) The direct common tangents to two circles meet on the line joining centres C 1 and C2 and
divide it externally in the ratio of the radii.

Working Rule to find direct common tangents:

Step 1: Find the coordinates of centres C1, C2 and radii r1, r2 of the two given circles.
Step 2: Find the coordinates of the point, say P dividing C 1C2 externally in the ratio r 1 : r2. Let P 
(h, k).
Step 3: Write the equation of any line through P(h, k) i.e. y − k = m(x − h) ……..(1).
Step 4: Find the two values of m, using the fact that the length of the perpendicular on (1) from the
centre C1 of one circle is equal to its radius r 1.
Step 5: Substituting these values of ‘m’ in (1), the equation of the two direct common tangents can
be obtained.

(b) The transverse common tangents also meet on the line of centre and divide it internally in
the ratio of the radii.

Working Rule to find transverse common tangents:

All the steps except the 2nd step are the same as above. Here
in the second step the point P (h, k) will divide C 1C2 internally r1

in the ratio r1 : r2 R
r2
C2 P
C2

Notes:
• When two circles are real and non-intersecting, 4 common tangents can be drawn.
• When two circles touch each other externally, 3 common tangents can be drawn to the circles.
• When two circles intersect each other at two real and distinct points, two common tangents can
be drawn to the circles.
• When two circles touch each other internally one common tangent can be drawn to the circles.

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