STRAIGHT LINES AND CIRCLES

Different standard form of the equation of a straight b1c 2 b 2 c1 a 2 c1 a 1c 2

line : ,
General form : Ax + By + C = 0 a1 b 2 a 2 b1 a1 b 2 a 2 b1
where A, B, C are any real numbers not all zero. Angle between two lines :
Gradient (Tangent) form : y = mx + c The angle between two lines whose slopes are m1
and m2 is given by
It is the equation of a straight line which cuts off an
intercept c on y-axis and makes an angle with the m1 m 2
tan =
positive direction (anticlockwise) of x-axis such that 1 + m1m 2
tan = m. The number m is called slope or the
If is angle between two lines then is also the
gradient of this line.
angle between them.
Intercept form :
The equation of any straight line parallel to a given
x y line ax + by + c = 0 is ax + by + k = 0.
+ =1
a b The equation of any straight line perpendicular to a
It is the equation of straight line which cuts off given line, ax + by + c = 0 is bx ay + k = 0.
intercepts a and b on the axis of x and y respectively. The equation of any straight line passing through the
Normal form (Perpendicular form) : point of intersection of two given lines l1 a1x + b1y
x cos + y sin = p + c1 = 0 and l2 a2x + b2y + c 2 = 0 is l1 + l 2 = 0
It is the equation of a straight line on which the where is any real number, which can be determined
length of the perpendicular from the origin is p and by given additional condition in the question.
is the angle which , this perpendicular makes with the The length of perpendicular from a given point (x1,
positive direction of x-axis. y1) to a given line ax + by + c = 0 is
One point form : ax 1 + by1 + c
= p (say)
y y1 = m(x x1)
(a 2 + b 2 )
It is the equation of a straight line passing through a
given point (x1, y1) and having slope m. In particular, the length of perpendicular from origin
Parametric equation : c
(0, 0) to the line ax + by + c = 0 is
x x1 y y1 a 2 + b2
= =r
cos sin Equation of Bisectors :
It is the equation of a straight line passes through a The equations of the bisectors of the angles between
given point A(x1, y1) and makes an angle with x- the lines a1x + b1y + c1 = 0 and a 2x + b2y + c2 = 0 are
axis. a 1 x + b1 y + c1 a 2x + b2 y + c 2
=
Two points form :
a 12 + b12 a 22 + b 22
y y1
y y1 = 2 (x x1) Distance between parallel lines :
x 2 x1
Choose a convenient point on any of the lines (put x
It is the equation of a straight line passing through = 0 and find the value of y or put y = 0 and find the
y y1 value of x). Now the perpendicular distance from this
two given points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2), where 2 point on the other line will give the required distance
x 2 x1
between the given parallel lines.
is its slope.
Pair of straight lines :
Point of intersection of two lines a1x + b 1y + c1 = 0
The equation ax2 + 2hxy + by2 = 0 represents a pair
and a2x + b2y + c 2 = 0 is given by
of straight lines passing through the origin.

XtraEdge for IIT-JEE 51 NOVEMBER 2009

 Let the lines represented by ax2 + 2hxy + by2 = 0 be If C 1, C2 are the centres and a1, a2 are the radii of two
y m1x = 0 and y m2x = 0, then circles, then
2h a (i) The circles touch each other externally, if
m1 + m2 = and m1m2 =
b b C1C 2 = a1 + a2
General equation of second degree in x, y is (ii) The circles touch each other internally, if
ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 ...(i) C1C 2 = |a1 a 2|
This equation represents two straight lines, if (iii) The circles intersects at two points, if
= abc + 2fgh af2 bg2 ch2 = 0 |a1 a 2| < C 1C 2 < a1 + a2
a h g (iv) The circles neither intersect nor touch each other, if
or h b f =0 C1C 2 > a1 + a2 or C1C2 < |a1 a2|
g f c Equation of any circle through the point of
and point of intersection of these lines is given by intersection of two given circles S1 = 0 and S 2 = 0 is
given by S 1 + S2 = 0 ( 1) and can be
hf bg hg af
, determined by an additional condition.
ab h 2 ab h 2 Equation of the tangent to the given circle
The angle between the two straight lines represented x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 at any point (x1, y1) on it,
by (i) is given by is xx1 + yy1 + g(x + x1) + f(y + y1) + c = 0
2 h 2 ab The straight line y = mx + c touches the circle x2 + y2
tan =
a +b = a2, if c2 = a2(1 + m2) and the point of contact of the
If ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 represents a m ma a
pair of parallel straight lines, then the distance tangent y = mx a 1 + m 2 , is ,
2
between them is given by 1+ m 1 + m2
Length of tangent drawn from the point (x1, y1) to the
g 2 ac f 2 bc
2 or 2 circle S = 0 is S1 , where
a (a + b) b (a + b)
2
S1 = x1 + y12 + 2gx1 + 2fy1 + c
Circle:
The equation of pair of tangents drawn from point
Different forms of the equations of a circle : (x1, y1) to the circle
Centre radius form : the equation of a circle whose S = 0 i.e. x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0, is SS1 = T2,
centre is the point (h, k) and radius 'a' is where T xx1 + yy1 + g(x + x1) + f(y + y1) + c and S1 as
(x h)2 + (y k)2 = a 2 mentioned above.
General equation of a circle : It is given by Chord with a given Middle point :
x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 ...(i) the equation of the chord of the circle S = 0 whose
Equation (i) can also be written as mid-point is (x1, y1) is given by T = S1, where T and
S1 as defined a above.
|x (g)|2 + |y (f)|2 = | g 2 + f 2 c |2
If be the angle at which two circles of radii r1 and r2
which is in centre-radius form, so by comparing, we intersect, then
get the coordinates of centre (g, f) and radius is
r12 + r22 d 2
g2 + f 2 c . cos =
2 r1r2
Parametric Equations of a Circle :
The parametric equations of a circle where d is distance between their centres.
(x h)2 + (y k)2 = a 2 are x = h + a cos and Note Two circles are said to be intersect
orthogonally if the angle between their tangents at
y = k + a sin , where is a parameter.
their point of intersection is a right angle i.e.
Lengths of intercepts on the coordinate axes made by
r12 + r22 = d2 or
2 2
the circle (i) are 2 g c and 2 f c
2g1g2 + 2f1f2 = c1 + c2
Equation of the circle on the line joining the points Radical axis : The equation of the radical axis of the
A(x1, y1) and B(x2, y2) as diameter is given by two circle is S1 S2 = 0 i.e.
y y1 y y 2 2x(g1 g2) + 2y(f1 f2) + c1 c2 = 0
= 1
x x1 x x 2

XtraEdge for IIT-JEE 52 NOVEMBER 2009