UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

Institute of Information and Computing Sciences

MATH 104

CIRCLES

Circle is a set of all points on a plane equidistant from a fixed point on the plane. The fixed point
is called the center and the distance from the center to any point in the circle is the radius.

The general form of the Circle is x2 + y2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0. The other form of the circle is the
center-radius form (x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r2 , where the center is at coordinate (h, k) and the radius
is r.

To translate a general form to center-radius form, we simply use the method of completing the
square and factoring them out as a perfect square. On the otherhand, from center-radius to
general form, we simply expand the binomial and equate it to zero. (see powerpoint for
examples).

A. CIRCLES DETERMINED BY GEOMETRIC CONDITIONS.

1. Find the equation of the circle passing through points P( 1, – 2), Q(5, 4) and R(10, 5).
a. This can be easily solved by plugging in the values of the coordinate (x, y) to the
general form of the circle and solving it using systems to get the intersections.

P(1, – 2) >>> (1)2 + (-2)2 + D(1) + E(-2) + F = 0

Q(5, 4) >>>> (5)2 + (4)2 + D(5) + E(4) + F = 0
R(10, 5) >>> (10)2 + (5)2 + D(10) + E(5) + F = 0

*Solve now for D, E, and F by elimination or substitution using systems.

D – 2E + F + 5 = 0
5D + 4E + F +41 = 0
10D + 5E + F + 125 = 0
D = –18, E = 6 and F = 25. >>>>> plug in again to the general form

*The equation of the circle is x2 + y2 – 18x + 6y + 25 = 0. Converting it to center radius

form by completing the square: (x2 – 18x + 81) + (y2 + 6y + 9) = –25 + 81 + 9, the
expression now is (x – 9)2 + (y + 3)2 = 65, where the center is at C(9, – 3) and the radius
is √65.

b. ANOTHER is by simply encoding the system of equation to your calculator:

*for CASIO: MODE > EQN (5) > anX + bnY + cnZ = dn (2) for three variables. Input
the coefficients of the system. BE SURE THAT THE CONSTANT IS AT THE
LEFT SIDE. X there will be D, Y is E and Z is F. then find again the equation of the
circle.
2. Find the equation of the circle tangent to 2x – y + 1 = 0 at point P(2, 5) and the center is
on the line x + y = 9.
a. In geometry, the line tangent at P(2, 5) will have a perpendicular line drawn from
P(2, 5) to the center (h, k). Hence, the line 2x – y + 1=0 will have an equation of the
perpendicular line from P(2, 5).

b. at P(2, 5) the tangent line is 2x – y + 1=0 with slope of m = 2. Therefore the

perpendicular line at P(2, 5) that will pass through the C(h, k) will have the slope of
1
m = – l/2. Thus, the perpendicular line will have an equation on 𝑦 − 5 = − 2 (𝑥 − 2) or the
simplified is 2y + x -12 = 0.

c. looking at the diagram, the perpendicular line will have a point of intersection with
the line containing the center. And the intersection is the center itself. Therefore, given
two lines, the point of intersection (which is the center) can be computed using systems
of linear equations.
x + y = 9 >>>>> equation of line containing center
x + 2y = 12 >>>> equation of the perpendicular line
by elimination: x = 6 and y = 3

d. The center is defined as (6, 3). The last thing is by getting the radius. This can be
computed by getting the distance (using distance formula) from Center (6, 3) going to
point P(2, 5).

e. r = 10, thus the equation is (x – 6)2 + (y – 3)2 = 20.

Illustration:

2x – y + 1=0 Broken line represents

the line perpendicular
to the tangent line and
the radius.

x+y=9
*containing the center
 2. Find the equation of the circle tangent to x – y = 2 at point P(4, 2) and the center is at the
x-axis.
3. Find the equation of the line tangent to the line 4x + 3y = 4 at the point (4, – 4) and the
center is on the line x – y = 7.
---------------------------------------*see solution at the bottom-------------------------------------------
4. 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.
*Plot the lines through y-intercept and the slope:

Broken line represents x + 2y – 5 = 0

the radius. By getting
the distance of one line 2x + y + 2 = 0
to point C(h, k) and r1
equating them. We can
solve for (h, k) r3 r2

2x – y – 10 = 0

𝑟1 = 𝑟2 = 𝑟3 and these radii are all distances from a line to a Equate r1 with r2 and solve for h
point. Where the point P(x, y) will be the center (h, k)
2ℎ+𝑘+2 2ℎ−𝑘−10
𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐶 2ℎ + (1)(𝑘) + 2 2ℎ + 𝑘 + 2
= > 2ℎ + 𝑘 + 2 = −2ℎ + 𝑘 + 10
√5 −√5
𝑟3 = = = ℎ=2
±√𝐴2 + 𝐵2 √22 + 12 √5
*equate r2 and r1
𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐶 2ℎ − (1)(𝑘) − 10 2ℎ − 𝑘 − 10
𝑟2 = = = 2ℎ−𝑘−10 ℎ+2𝑘−5
±√𝐴2 + 𝐵2 −√22 + 12 −√5 =− √5
> −2ℎ + 𝑘 + 10 = −ℎ − 2𝑘 + 5
−√5

*denominator becomes negative because of By

−ℎ + 3𝑘 = −5 > −(2) + 3𝑘 = −5 > 𝑘 = −1
𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 + 𝐶 (1)ℎ + (2)(𝑘) − 5 ℎ + 2𝑘 − 5 *Center is (2, –1). To get the radius, substitute (h, k) to the
𝑟1 = − = =−
±√𝐴2 + 𝐵2 √22 + 12 √5 previous radius/distance equations.
*r1 is negative because the point is below the line. (𝑥 − 2)2 + (𝑦 + 1)2 = 5