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Analytic Geometry

Section 2-6: Circles


Objective: To find equations of
circles and to find the coordinates of
any points where circles and lines
meet.
Page 81

Definition of a Circle
A circle is the set of all points in a plane
equidistant from a fixed point called the
center point.
We can derive the equation directly
from the distance formula.
If we place the center point on the origin
point, the equation of a circle with
center point (0, 0) and radius r is:
x2 + y2 = r2

Circles and Points of Intersection


circle: in a plane, the set of points
equidistant from a given point, called the
center.
radius: any segment whose endpoints are
the center and a point on the circle.
If the circle is centered at (0, 0), and the
radius is r, then the distance to any
point, (x, y) on the circle (using the
distance formula) is
x 0 y 0 r square both sides...
2

x 0 y 0 r 2 now simplify...
2

x2 y2 r 2

This is the standard form of a circle with center (0,0) and


radius r.

(x,y)

Example: Write an equation of the circle with its


center at the origin with the point (3, 4) on the
circle.
Use the Standard Equation of the
Circle to find the radius of the
circle... 2
2
2
x y r

3 4 r2
2

9 16 r
2
25 r
2
2
x y 25

(x - h)2 + (y - k)2 = r2
With center at (h, k) and radius r.
Here are some examples:

Sample Problems
1) Find the center, radius and graph the equation: (x - 2)2 + (y + 5)2 = 17

Solution: Center point : (2, -5), radius =

Find the center and radius of the circle with the


following equation: 100x2 + 100y2 100x + 240y 56 = 0.

This is the given equation.

Move the loose number


over to the other side.

Group the x-stuff and y-stuff


together.
Divide off by whatever is
multiplied on the squared
terms.

Find the center and radius of the circle with the


following equation: 100x2 + 100y2 100x + 240y 56 = 0.
Take the coefficient on the x-term,
multiply by one-half, square,
and add inside the x-stuff and
also to the other side. Do the
same with the y-term.

Convert the left-hand side to


squared form, and simplify the
right-hand side.

If necessary, fiddle with signs and


exponents to make your
equation match the circle
equation's format.

Find the center and radius of the circle with the


following equation: 100x2 + 100y2 100x + 240y 56 = 0.

Read off the answer.

The center is at ( 1/2, 6/5 )


and
the radius is 3/2.

2) x2 + y2 - 8x + 4y - 8 = 0 Find center, radius and graph.


Solution: We need to put the equation into the correct
form. We will do this by completing the square!!
(x2 - 8x
) + (y2 + 4y ) = 8 Complete the square!
See 1.6
(x2 - 8x + 16) + (y2 + 4y + 4) = 8 + 16 + 4
(x - 4)2 + (y + 2)2 = 28 Now it's in the correct form!!
Center point (4, -2) with radius =

4) Sketch the graph of


Solution: The above graph is part of a circle. Why?

3) Find the intersection of the line y = x - 1 and the circle x2 +


y2 = 25.

Solution: x2 + (x - 1)2 = 25
x2 + x2 - 2x + 1 = 25
2x2 - 2x - 24 = 0
x2 - x - 12 = 0 Now factor
(x - 4)(x + 3) = 0
x = 4 or x = -3
Substituting back in to find y gives the following
points: (4, 3) and (-3, -4)

Example: Find the points of intersection, if any, of the


graphs of x2 + y2 = 25 and y = 2/3 x + 2
Use substitution
x2 + (2/3 x + 2)2 = 25 simplify ...
x2 + 4/9 x2 + 8/3 x + 4 = 25
13/9 x2 + 8/3 x + 4 = 25
13/9 x2 + 8/3 x 21 = 0 multiply by 9
13 63
13x2 + 24x 189 = 0 factor
1 3
(13x + 63)(x 3) = 0
63 39
13x + 63 = 0 or x 3 = 0
x = 63
or
x=3
13
Now, find the y-coordinate for each x-coordinate...
y = 2/3(63/13) + 2
y = 2/3 (3) + 2
y = 126/39 + 2
y=2+2
y = 126/39 + 78/39
y=4
y = 48/39
y = 16/13
The points of intersection are (63/13, 16/13) and (3, 4)

To find the Intersection of a Line and a Circle


Algebraically:

1. Solve the linear equation for y in terms of


x (or x in terms of y).
2. Substitute this expression for y (or x) in
the equation of the circle. Then solve
the resulting quadratic equation.
3. Substitute each real x-solution from step
2 in the linear equation to get the
corresponding value of y (or vice versa).
Each point (x,y) is an intersection point.
4. You can check your result by substituting
the coordinates of the intersection points
in the two original equations.

Example: Find the equation of the circle that passes


through the points P(1, -2), Q(5, 4), and R(10, 5).

x y Dx Ey F 0
2

Using Points P 1,-2 , Q 5, 4 , and R 10,5


1 4 D 2 E F 0
25 16 5 D 4 E F 0
100 25 10 D 5 E F 0
D 18, E 6, F 25.
x y 18 x 6 y 25 0
2

Example A circle is tangent to the line 2x y + 1 =


0 at the point (2, 5), and the center is on the line
x + y= 9. Find the equation of the circle.
8

(2,5)
B
4

(6,3)
2

-15

-10

-5

-2

-4

-6

-8

10

15

The line through (2, 5) and perpendicular to the


line 2x y + 1 = 0 passes through the center of
the circle. The equation of this line is x + 2y =
12.
Hence, the solution of the system
X + 2y = 12
X+ y = 9
Yields the coordinates of the center.
Accordingly, the center is at (6, 3). The distance
from this point to (2, 5) is 20. The equation of
the circle, therefore, is
(x 6)2 + (y 3)2 = 20.

Example A triangle has its sides on the lines x + 2y


5 = 0, 2x y 10 = 0, and 2x + y + 2 = 0. Find the
equation of the circle inscribed in the triangle.
8

d3
-15

-10

-5

p
d1
-2

-4

-6

-8

d2

10

15

2 x ' y ' 2
22 12

2 x ' y ' 10
22 (1) 2

2 x ' y ' 2 2 x ' y ' 10


4 x ' 8 0
4x ' 8

2 x ' y ' 10

x' 2

2 1

Bisector

2 x ' y ' 10 x ' 2 y ' 5


x ' 3 y ' 5 0
x ' 3 y ' 5
Bisector

x ' 2 y ' 5
1 2
2

x' 2
x '- 3 y ' 5
2 - 3y ' 5
-3 y ' 3
y ' -1
Intersection point of the bisectors
is (2, -1) This is the center of the circle.
The distance from the center to the side of the circle is 5.
x 2 y 1 5.
2

Example: Find the equation of


a circle that passes through the
points (2,-1), (0,2), and (1,1).

Example: Find the equation of


the circle passing through the
points (1,-2) and (5,3) and
having its center on the line
x y + 2 =0.

Example: A circle is tangent to


the line 2x y + 1 = 0 at the
point (2,5), and the center of the
circle falls on the line x + y = 9.
What is the equation of the
circle?

Example: Find the equation of


the circle inscribed in the
triangle determined by the lines,
L1: 2x 3y + 21=0,
L2: 3x 2y 6 = 0,
L3: 2x + 3y + 9 = 0.

Example: Derive the equation


of the circle circumscribing the
triangle determined by the lines,
x + y = 8,
2x + y = 14,
3x + y = 22.

Example: Derive the equation


of the circle which passes
through the point (-2, 1) and is
tangent to the line
3x 2y 6 = 0
at the point (4,3).

Homework
Assignment
Page 87- 89
Problems 1 49 odd

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