Circles Notes Colorful
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Sara DinushaniCircles Notes Colorful
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Sara Dinushani⭕ CIRCLES
Coordinate Geometry — Equations, Properties & Worked Examples
Let's crack the code of circles — one formula at a time! 🎯
① Equation of a Circle
Consider a circle with centre C(a, b) and radius r. Let P(x, y) be any point on the circle.
Draw a right-angled triangle with the horizontal side (x − a) and the vertical side (y − b), and the hypotenuse CP = r.
Using Pythagoras' Theorem:
a2 + b 2 = c 2
Applying this to the triangle formed by the radius, we get the equation of a circle:
(x − a)2 + (y − b)2 = r2
★ Remember: This is the completed-square form. It instantly tells you the centre (a, b) and radius r — no extra
work needed!
② Summary — The Three Forms
Form Equation Centre / Notes
① General form (x − a)2 + (y − b)2 = r2 Centre C(a, b)
② Centred at origin x2 + y2 = r2 Centre C(0, 0)
③ Expanded form x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 C(−g, −f), r = √(g2 + f2 − c)
③ State the Centre & Radius
✎ Example 1
(x − 2)2 + (y − 4)2 = 100 = 102
a = 2, b = 4, r = 10 → Centre C(2, 4), radius r = 10
✎ Example 2
(x − 1)2 + (y + 8)2 = 12 = (√12)2
a = 1, b = −8, r = √12 → Centre C(1, −8), radius r = 2√3
✎ Example 3
x2 + y2 = 9 = 32
Rewrite as (x − 0)² + (y − 0)² = 9, so a = 0, b = 0, r = 3
→ Centre C(0, 0), radius R = 3
★ Remember: A circle centred at the origin always simplifies to x² + y² = r² — no brackets needed!
x2 + y2 = r2
④ Find the Equation of Each Circle
1. Centre (0, 0), r = 8
x2 + y2 = 64
2. Centre (½, −3/2), r = 5/2
(x − ½)2 + (y + 3/2)2 = 25/4
3. Centre (0, −2), r = √5
x2 + (y + 2)2 = 5
4. Centre (−3, 4), r = 6
(x + 3)2 + (y − 4)2 = 36
5. Centre (0, 0), r = √2
x2 + y2 = 2
⑤ Equation in Expanded Form
(x − a)2 + (y − b)2 = r2 with Centre C(a, b)
Expanding out the brackets:
x2 − 2ax + a2 + y2 − 2by + b2 = r2
x2 + y2 − 2ax − 2by + (a2 + b2 − r2) = 0
Now replace a by "−g", b by "−f", and let a² + b² − r² = "c":
x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0
where:
Centre C(−g, −f) and r = √(g2 + f2 − c)
★ Remember: Take HALF the coefficient of x to get g, and HALF the coefficient of y to get f. Then flip both signs
for the centre!
⑥ Worked Example — Expanded Form
Find the radius and centre of the circle:
x2 + y2 + 10x − 8y − 40 = 0
Step 1 — compare with x² + y² + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0:
2g = 10 → g = 5 2f = −8 → f = −4 c = −40
Step 2 — find the centre: C(−g, −f) ⇒ C(−5, 4)
Step 3 — find the radius:
r = √(g2 + f2 − c) = √(25 + 16 − (−40)) = √81
r=9
Extra — written back in completed-square form:
(x + 5)2 + (y − 4)2 = 81
⑦ Angle Properties of Circles
① The angle in a semicircle is a right angle.
If AB is the diameter of a circle and C is a point on the circumference, then ∠ACB = 90°.
② A tangent is perpendicular to the radius.
If a tangent touches the circle at point P(x, y), the radius to P is always perpendicular to the tangent there.
③ The perpendicular from the centre bisects a chord.
If O is the centre and AB is a chord with midpoint M, then OM ⊥ AB.
④ Tangents from the same external point are equal.
If PA and PB are tangents from external point P, then PA = PB. Triangles CAP and CBP are congruent.
★ Application: PA = PB works alongside the fact that CP bisects ∠ACB and is the perpendicular bisector of chord
AB.
⑤ The normal passes through the centre.
Since the normal is perpendicular to the tangent, and so is the radius, the normal and radius lie on the same line —
through the centre C(a, b).
(y − b) = mN(x − a)
★ Note: mN is the gradient of the normal.
⑥ Finding where a line meets a circle.
Solve the equation of the line and the equation of the circle simultaneously to find the intersection points A and B.
⑧ Important Concepts
① Right angle → diameter.
If A, B, C form a triangle with ∠ABC = 90°, then AC is the diameter of the circle (right angle in a semicircle), and the
centre is the midpoint of AC.
✎ Example — Equation of a Tangent
Find the tangent to the circle with centre (3, −2) at point A(6, −6).
Since the tangent ⊥ radius, first find the gradient of CA, then flip and negate for the tangent's gradient:
mCA = −4/3 ⇒ m⊥ = 3/4
Using point A(6, −6) with gradient 3/4:
(y + 6) = ¾(x − 6)
4y = 3x − 42
✎ Example — Circle with Diameter AB
A circle passes through A and B; C is the midpoint of AB. Find the equation of the circle with centre C.
Since C is the centre and the midpoint of AB, AB is the diameter. Find C, then r = |CA|:
C = MAB and r = |CA|
② Three points → perpendicular bisectors meet at the centre.
If A, B, C lie on a circle, draw the perpendicular bisectors of any two chords (e.g. AB and AC). They meet at the
centre.
⑨ Fully Worked Examples
✎ Example 1 — Circle with Diameter AB
Find the equation of the circle with diameter AB, where A(3, 0) and B(7, −4).
Midpoint MAB = C ( (7+3)/2 , (−4+0)/2 ) = C(5, −2)
r = |CA| = √[(5 − 3)2 + (−2 − 0)2] = √8 ⇒ r2 = 8
(x − 5)2 + (y + 2)2 = 8
✎ Example 2 — Circle Through Three Points
A circle passes through O(0, 0), P(3, 9) and Q(11, 11). Find its equation.
★ Concept: Draw two perpendicular bisectors of chords (e.g. OP, PQ) and solve simultaneously to get the centre.
Midpoint OP = (1.5, 4.5) mOP = 3 ⇒ m⊥ = −1/3
Midpoint PQ = (7, 10) mPQ = 1/4 ⇒ m⊥ = −4
⊥ bisector of OP: 3y = −x + 15 ......(1)
⊥ bisector of PQ: y = −4x + 38 ......(2)
Solving (1) and (2) together:
3(−4x + 38) = −x + 15 ⇒ −11x = −99 ⇒ x = 9, y = 2
Centre C(9, 2) r = |OC| = √(92 + 22) = √85
(x − 9)2 + (y − 2)2 = 85
✎ Example 3 — Centre on a Given Line
Find the circle through A(7, 3) and B(11, −1) with centre on the line 2x + y = 7.
Midpoint AB = (9, 1) mAB = −1 ⇒ m⊥ = 1
⊥ bisector of AB: y = x − 8
Solve with 2x + y = 7: centre C(5, −3)
r = |CB| = √(22 + 62) = √40
(x − 5)2 + (y + 3)2 = 40
✎ Example 4 — Show the Centre Lies on a Line
P(1, −2) and Q(7, 1) lie on a circle. Show the centre lies on the line 4x + 2y = 15.
Midpoint PQ = (4, −½) mPQ = 1/2 ⇒ m⊥ = −2
(y + ½) = −2(x − 4) ⇒ 2y + 1 = −4x + 16
4x + 2y = 15
✓ Hence, the centre lies on the line 4x + 2y = 15, as required.
✎ Example 5 — Circle Touching the x-axis
Find the circle touching the x-axis with centre (6, −5).
The x-axis is tangent to the circle, so r equals the perpendicular distance from the centre to the x-axis.
Centre C(6, −5) r=5
(x − 6)2 + (y + 5)2 = 25