Problem Sheet 8: Coordinate Geometry of Circles

1. (a) The circle (x 4)

2
+ (y 3)
2
4 has centre C and radi!s r.
"rite do#n:
(i) the coordinates of C$
(ii) the %al!e of r&
(2)

(b) The line y x + ' intersects this circle at t#o (oints A and B&
)ind the coordinates of A and B&
(5)
(Total 7 marks)

2. * circle has e+!ation x
2
+ y
2
+ 2x ,y -&
(a) )ind the radi!s of the circle. and the coordinates of its centre&
(4)

(b) )ind the e+!ation of the tan/ent to the circle at the (oint (2. 4)&
(5)
(Total 9 marks)

3. The line 0oinin/ the (oints A (-. 1) and B (4. ') is a tan/ent to a circle #hose centre. C. is at the
(oint (1. 4)&
(a) )ind the e+!ation of the line AB&
(2)
1
(b) )ind the e+!ation of the line thro!/h C #hich is (er(endic!lar to AB&
(2)
(c) )ind the coordinates of the (oint of contact of the line AB #ith the circle&
(2)
(d) )ind the e+!ation of the circle&
(2)
(Total 8 marks)

4. * circle has e+!ation
(x 2)
2
+(y 2)
2
'--&
(a) Gi%en that the circle intersects the x3a4is at P and Q. find. in s!rd form. the coordinates of
P and Q&
(3)

(b) Gi%en that the circle intersects the y3a4is at R and S. #rite do#n. or find. the coordinates
of R and S.
(1)
(c) 5ence sho# that the +!adrilateral PRQS has area '-2 s+!are !nits&
(4)
(Total 8 marks)

5. * circle has e+!ation x
2
+ y
2
4x '4 -&
(a) )ind:
(i) the coordinates of the centre of the circle$
(3)
(ii) the radi!s of the circle in the form p 2 , #here p is an inte/er&
(3)
2
(b) * chord of the circle has len/th 8& )ind the (er(endic!lar distance from the centre of
the circle to this chord&
(3)
(c) * line has e+!ation y = 2k x, #here k is a constant&
(i) Sho# that the x3coordinate of any (oint of intersection of the line and the circle
satisfies the e+!ation
x
2
2(k + l)x + 2k
2
2 -
(3)

(ii) )ind the %al!es of k for #hich the e+!ation
x
2
2(k + l)x + 2k
2
2 -
has e+!al roots&
(4)
(iii) 6escribe the /eometrical relationshi( bet#een the line and the circle #hen k ta7es
either of the %al!es fo!nd in (art (c)(ii)&
(1)
(Total 17 marks)
3