CIRCLE-BASIC CONCEPTS

Locus has been defined as the path of a point satisfying some geometrical condition; i.e. constraint equations. The
path represents a curve, which includes all the points satisfying the given condition.
Similarly a circle can be defined as: The locus of a point which moves in such a way that its distance from a fixed
point is always constant and positive. The fixed point is called the centre of the circle and the given distance the
radius of the circle. In real life, when you rotate a stone tied with one end of a string then the path followed by
stone is exactly a circle whose centre is your finger an radius is length of the string.

The equation of a circle with its centre at C(xc, yc) and radius r is:
(x xc)2 + (y yc)2 = r2
Proof:
Let P(x, y) be any point on the circle. Then by the definition of the locus the
constant distance is (see figure given below)

|PC| = r ((x-xc) )2+(y-yc) )2 ) = r

(x xc)2 + (y yc)2 = r2
which is the required equation of the circle
Note:
(1) If xc = yc = 0 (i.e. the centre of the circle is at origin) then equation of the
circle reduce to x2 + y2 = r2
(2) If r = 0 then the circle represents a point or a point circle.

Equation of the circle in Various Forms

(i) The simplest equations of the circle is x2 + y2 = r2 whose centre is (0, 0) and
radius r.
(ii) The equation (x a)2+ (y b)2 = r2 represents a circle with centre (a, b)
and radius r.
(iii) The equation x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is the general equation of a
circle with centre (g, f) and radius (g2+f2-c).
(iv) Equation of the circle with points P(x1, y1) and Q(x2, y2) as extremities of
a diameter is (x x1) (x x2) + (y y1)(y y2) = 0.

Equation of a circle under Different Conditions

Parametric Equation of a circle

Let us consider a circle of radius r and centre at C(xc, yc) we have:

(y-yc)/r = sin (see figure given below)

y = yc + r sin
Similarly x = xc + r cos
This gives the parametric from of the equation of a circle.

General equation of a circle in polar co-ordinate system

Let O be the origin, or pole, OX the initial line, C the centre and a the
radius of the circle.
Let the polar co-ordinates of C be R and , so that OC = R and XOC = .
Let a radius vector through O at an angle with the initial line cut the
circle at P and Q. Let OP be r.

Then we have

CP2 = OC2 + OP2 2OC . OP cos COP

i.e. a2 = R2 + r2 2 Rr cos ( )
i.e. r2 2 Rr cos ( ) + R2 a2 = 0 (1)
This is the required polar equation.
Particular cases of the general equation in polar coordinates.

Note:
1. Let the initial line be taken to go through the centre C. Then = 0, and the
equation becomes
r2 2Rr cos + R2 a2 = 0.
2. Let the pole O be taken on the circle, so that
R = OC =
The general equation the becomes
r2 2ar cos ( ) = 0,
i.e. r = 2a cos ( ).
3. Let the pole be on the circle and also let the initial line pass through the
centre of the circle. In this case
= 0, and R = a

Now, the general equation reduces to the simple form r=2a cos

This is at once evident from the figure given above.

For, if OCA were a diameter, we have
OP = OA cos ,
r = 2a cos .
Let us consider a circle such that points P(x1, y1) and Q(x2, y2) are on it
and PQ is one of the diameters of the circle.
If R(x, y) is any point on the circle then

Recall:
PRQ = /2 (Angle subtended by diameter at any point on the circle is a
right angle).
QR PR
(Slope of QR) x (Slope of PR) = 1
(y-y2)/(x-x2 )(y-y1)/(x-x1 ) = 1
(x x1) (x x2) + (y y1) (y y2) = 0
Which gives the required equation.
Note:
This equation can also be obtained considering
PR2 + QR2 = PQ2
The general from of the equation of a circle is:
x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 (1)
(x + g)2 + (y + f)2 = g2 + f2 c
Comparing this equation with the standard equation (x xc)2 + (y
yc)2= r2
We have:
Centre of the circle is (g, f), Radius = (g2+f2-c).
Equation (1) is also written as S = 0.
Note:
1. If g2 + f2 c > 0, circle is real
2. If g2 + f2 c = 0, circle is a point circle.
3. If g2 + f2 c < 0, the circle is imaginary.
4. Any second-degree equation ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy+c=0
represents a circle only when h = 0 and a = b i.e. if there is no term containing
xy and co-efficient of x2 and y2 are same, provided abc + 2fgh af2 bg2

ch2 0

Illustration:
Find the centre and the radius 3x2 + 3y2 8x 10y + 3 = 0.
Solution:
We write the given equation as x2 + y2 8/3 10/3 y + 1 = 0.
g = -4/3, f = -5/3 , c = 1
Hence the centre is (4/3,5/3) and the radius is
(16/9+25/9-1)=(32/9)=(42)/3.

Illustration:
Find the equation of the circle with centre (1, 2) which passes through the
point (4, 6).
Solution:
The radius of the circle is ((4-1)2+(6-2)2 )=25 = 5.
Hence the equation of the circle is (x 1)2 + (y 2)2 = 25
x2 + y2 2x 4y = 20.

Illustration:
A circle has radius 3 units and its centre lies on the line y = x 1. Find
theequation of the circle if it passes through (7, 3).
Solution:
Let the centre of the circle be (, ). It lies on the line y = x 1
= 1. Hence the centre is (, 1).
The equation of the circle is (x )2 + (y + 1)2 = 9. It passes
through (7, 3)
(7 )2 + (4 )2 = 9 22 22 + 56 = 0

 2 11 + 28 = 0 ( 7) = 0 = 4, 7.
Hence the required equations are
x2 + y2 8x 6y + 6 = 0 and x2 + y2 14x 12y + 76 = 0.

Illustration:
Find the equation of the circle whose diameter is the line joining the
points (4, 3) and (12, 1). Find also the intercept made by it on the y-axis.
Solution:
The equation of the required circle is
(x + 4) (x 12) + (y 3) (y + 1) = 0.
On the y-axis, x = 0 48 + y2 2y 3 = 0.
y2 2y 51 = 0 y = 1 52.
Hence the intercept on the y-axis = 2252 = 413.

Illustration:
Find the equation of the circle passing through (1, 1), (2, 1) and (3, 2).
Solution:
Let the equation be x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0.
Substituting the coordinates of three points, we get
2g + 2f + c = 2,
4g 2f + c = 5,
6g + 4f + c = 13.
Solving the above three equations, we obtain:
f = 1/2; g = 5/2, c = 4.
Hence the equation of the circle is
x2 + y2 5x y + 4 = 0.

Illustration:
Write general equation of a circle centered at a point on x-axis.
Solution:
Circle is: x2 + y2 + 2gx + c = 0, g2 c 0
Its centre is (g, 0) and radius (g2-c)
Or
(x + g)2 + (y 0)2 = r2

Its centre is (g, 0) and radius r. (figure given above)

Illustration:
Write general equation of a circle passing through the origin.
Solution:
Point (0, 0) must satisfy x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0
C=0

circle is : x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy = 0 (figure given above)

Illustration:
Write the equation of a circle centered at x-axis at (x1, 0) and touching yaxis at the origin. (figure given below)
Solution:

(x x1)2 + (y 0)2 = (x1)

Illustration:
Write the equation of a circle passing through O (0, 0) A (a, 0) and B (0, b)?
Obviously AB is the diameter of the circle. (Figure given below)

Solution:
(x a) (x 0) + (y 0) (y b) = 0
Illustration:
Find the equation of circle shown in figure given below in polar form.

Solution:
OP = OA cos
r = 2a cos , /2 /2, a is raius of circle

Illustration:
Find the co-ordinates of the centre of the circle represented by
r = A cos + B sin .
Solution:
r = A cos + B sin
= [A/(A2+B2 ) cos +B/(A2+B2 ) sin ] (A2+B2 )
= cos ( ) ((A2+B2 ))
centre is (1/2 (A2+B2 ),tan-1 (B/A) )

Note:

1. The equation of the circle through three non-collinear points

2. The circle x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 makes an intercept on x-axis if

x2 + 2gx + c = 0 has real roots i.e. if g2 > c. And, the magnitude of the
intercept is 2(g2-c).

The Position of a Point with respect to a Circle

The point P(x1, y1) lies outside, on, or inside a circle S x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy
+ c = 0, according as S1 x12 + y12 + 2gx1 + 2fy1 + c > = or < 0.