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x y .
2
+ y2
y
Section Formula.
Suppose the point P ( x, y ) divides the segment joining A( x1 , y1 ) , B ( x2 , y2 ) internally in the
ratio AP : PB h : k , then
k
k
h
x h k x1 h k x2
y k y h y
1
2
hk
hk
B (x 2, y2)
P (x, y)
A (x 1, y1)
x1 x2 y1 y2
,
).
2
2
AP
and the formula written as
AB
x (1 ) x1 x2
y (1 ) y1 y2
Definition. (Slope)
Given two distinct points P ( x1 , y1 ) , Q( x2 , y2 ) . The slope of the segment/ray/line PQ is
y y1
m 2
x2 x1
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Carto Wong
When x1 x2 , the slope is . Some authors said the slope is undefined in this case.
Line with slope 0 is called horizontal line. Line with slope is called vertical line.
A straight line which makes a positive angle with x-axis has slope m tan .
y
If 0 90 , then tan 0 and the line has positive slope. If 90 180 , then
the line has negative slope.
Two lines L1 , L2 are said to be parallel if they have the same slope. Parallel
lines do NOT intersect with each others (except the trivial case L1 L2 ).
L1
L2
L2
Parallel Lines
Perpendicular Lines
(Two-point Form)
.
x x1 x2 x1
(Intercept Form)
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Carto Wong
x y
1.
a b
(Slope-intercept Form)
(General Form)
A
B
y -intercept
and
C
.
B
When A 0 and B 0 , the line is horizontal. When A 0 and B 0 , the line is vertical.
When C 0 , the line passes through origin.
Recall that a circle is a set of points for which they are equidistant from center.
P(x, y)
r
C(a, b)
Equation of Circle.
(Standard Form) The equation of circle centered at C ( a, b) with radius r is
( x a ) 2 ( y b) 2 r 2 .
In particular, when C (0, 0) , the equation of circle centered at origin with radius r is
x2 y 2 r 2 .
(General Form)
In this case,
center (
D E
1
, ) and radius
D2 E 2 4F .
2
2
2
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Carto Wong
Given a line and a circle in the same plane. One and only one of the following cases occur.
Case 1
Case 2
Case 3
No intersection.
A line for which intersects a circle C at exactly 1 point is called a tangent to the circle C
at that point.
2
p 4q 0 1 intersection
p 2 4q 0 no intersection
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Carto Wong
In the examination, you are suggested to substitute the points A, B into the
equation you obtained to see whether they satisfy the equation. Of course, even if
they satisfy the equation, it does NOT mean your answer must be correct (the
circle passes through A, B does not mean it has AB as diameter).
x1 x2 y1 y2
,
) , which is the midpoint of PQ. Hence, PQ is the diameter of
2
2
this circle.
Example 2.
Find the equation of circle passes through A(0, 5) , B (3, 4) , C ( 3, 4) .
Solution 1. (Algebraic Method)
Let the required equation be
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Carto Wong
x 2 y 2 Dx Ey F 0 --------------------------- (*)
Substitute the point A(0, 5) into (*), 02 52 0 D 5 E F 0 , i.e.
5 E F 25 ------------------------------------ (1)
Substitute the point B (3, 4) into (*), 32 42 3D 4 E F 0 , i.e.
3D 4 E F 25 -------------------------------- (2)
Substitute the point C ( 3, 4) into (*), (3) 2 42 3D 4 E F 0 , i.e.
3D 4 E F 25 ------------------------------- (3)
(2) (3), gives 6 D 0 D 0 . Put D 0 into (2),
4 E F 25 ----------------------------------- (4)
(1) (4), gives E 0 . Put E 0 into (4), we have F 25 .
A(0, 5)
C(-3, 4)
B(3, 4)
3 9
Midpoint of AB is ( , ) .
2 2
Slope of AB is mAB
A(0, 5)
54
1
.
03
3
C(-3, 4)
B(3, 4)
1
3.
mAB
center
9
3
y 3( x )
2
2
i.e.
y 3 x ---------------------------------------- (1)
Step II
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Carto Wong
3 9
Midpoint of AC is ( , ) .
2 2
54
1
.
Slope of AC is mAC
0 (3) 3
Slope of the perpendicular bisector is
1
3 .
mAC
9
3
3( x )
2
2
i.e.
y 3x -------------------------------------- (2)
Step III (Find the coordinates of the center)
By solving (1) and (2),
center of the circle (0, 0) .
Step IV (Find the equation of the circle)
The radius of circle is given by the distance from the center (0, 0) to A(0, 5) , which is
r 0 2 52 5 .
The equation of circle is therefore
( x 0) 2 ( y 0) 2 r 2 ,
i.e.
x 2 y 2 25 0 .
Example 3.
Find the coordinates of the intersection point(s) of C : x 2 y 2 25 and L : x 2 y 5 0 .
Solution.
Substitute x 2 y 5 into the circle equation,
(2 y 5) 2 y 2 25 .
This is a quadratic equation in y, after simplification becomes
5 y 2 20 y 0
5 y ( y 4) 0
The roots are y 0, 4 (2 intersections!).
L
(3, 4)
(-5, 0)
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Carto Wong
When y 0 , x 2 y 5 5 .
When y 4 , x 2 y 5 3 .
Hence, the intersection points are (5, 0) and (3, 4) .
Example 4.
Given a circle x 2 y 2 2 x 2 y 23 0 and a point P (4, 5) on this circle. Find the
equation of the tangent at P.
Solution.
The center of the circle is C (1, 1) .
P(4, 5)
5 1 4
.
4 1 3
1
3
.
Slope of the tangent l is
mCP
4
Slope of CP is mCP
3
The equation of l is y 5 ( x 4) , i.e.
4
3 x 4 y 32 0 .
TIP.
2
2
xx1 yy1 D
Example 5.
Given a line L : 3 x 4 y 32 0 and a point P (4, 5) on it. If a circle C touches the line at P
and the circle passes through Q(5, 2) . Find the equation of C.
Solution.
Step I
9 3
Midpoint of PQ is ( , ) .
2 2
Slope of PQ is mPQ
P(4, 5)
5 ( 2)
7 .
45
1
1
.
mPQ 7
center
Q(5, -2)
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Carto Wong
3 1
9
(x )
2 7
2
i.e.
x 7 y 6 0 ----------------------------------- (1)
Step II
3
Slope of L is mL .
4
Slope of the line perpendicular to L is
1
4
.
mL 3
4
( x 4) .
3
After simplification,
4 x 3 y 1 0 ----------------------------------- (2)
Step III (Find the coordinates of the center)
By solving (1) and (2),
center of the circle (1, 1) .
Step IV (Find the equation of the circle)
Radius is r (4 1) 2 (5 1) 2 5 . The equation of the circle is
( x 1) 2 ( y 1) 2 25 .
Example 6.
Given a circle x 2 y 2 2 x 2 y 23 0 and a point R (8, 2) outside the circle. Suppose the
tangents through R touch the circle at M, N. Find the equation of MN.
Solution.
Let M ( x1 , y1 ) and N ( x2 , y2 ) .
By the tip in example 4, the equation of MR is
xx1 yy1 ( x x1 ) ( y y1 ) 23 0 .
M (x 1, y1)
R(8, 2)
N (x 2, y2)
Put ( x, y ) (8, 2) ,
8 x1 2 y1 (8 x1 ) (2 y1 ) 23 0 --------------------- (1)
Replace ( x1 , y1 ) by ( x2 , y2 ) in (1), we get a similar equality
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Carto Wong
8 x2 2 y2 (8 x2 ) (2 y2 ) 23 0 --------------------- (2)
By (1) and (2), we see that M ( x1 , y1 ) and N ( x2 , y2 ) satisfy the equation
8 x 2 y (8 x ) (2 y ) 23 0 .
The equation of MN is
7 x y 33 0 .
Example 7.
In the situation of example 6, find the equations of the tangents MR and NR.
Solution.
Step I
(4, 5)
R(8, 2)
(5, -2)
Step II
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