Circle

Week 1
Learning Outcomes

The learner …
 illustrate the different types of conic section: parabola, ellipse, circle,
hyperbola, and degenerate cases,
 determine the standard form of equation of a circle,
 define a circle as a set of points on a plane,
 sketch the graph of a circle in a rectangular coordinate system, and
 solve situational problems involving a circle.

Definitions:

1. Conic section – the intersection of a plane and a cone; either circle, ellipse, parabola,
hyperbola or one of their degenerate cases.
2. Circle –the collection of all points on a plane that are equidistant from a fixed point
called center.
3. Ellipse – the set of all points in a plane the sum of whose distances from two fixed
points, called foci, is a constant.
4. Parabola – the set of all points in a plane equidistant from a fixed point, called focus,
and a fixed line, called directrix.
5. Hyperbola – the set of all points in a plane the difference of whose distances from two
fixed points, called foci, is a constant.
6. Radius – the distance between the any point on a circle and its center.

Introduction: An Overview of Conic Sections

We introduce the conic sections (or conics), a particular class of curves which oftentimes appear
in nature and which have applications in other fields. The four conic sections are the shapes
formed by the intersection of a plane and a right circular cone. Depending on how a person
tilted the plane when it intersected the cone, one formed different shapes at the intersection –
beautiful shapes with near-perfect symmetry.

Fig 1.1 -The four conic sections

 Circle - when the plane is horizontal

 Ellipse-when the (tilted) plane intersects only one cone to form a bounded curve.
  Parabola - when the plane intersects only one cone to form an unbounded curve
 Hyperbola- when the plane (not necessarily vertical) intersects both cones to form two
unbounded curves (each called a branch of the hyperbola)
Discussions

Geometric properties of Circle:

1. Center- fixed point of a circle.

Fig 1.2- The center of the circle denoted by (h, k)

Note: h is the x coordinate of the center and k is the y coordinate of the center

2. Radius- constant distance from the center to any point on the circle.

Fig 1.3-The radius of the circle denoted by r

3. Diameter- any straight line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose
endpoints lie on the circle.
 Fig 1.4 The diameter of the circle denoted by d,(𝑥, 𝑦) is any point on the circle

Standard Equation of the Circle

 Standard Equation of a Circle Centered at (ℎ, 𝑘)

(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟 2

 Standard Equation of a Circle Centered at the origin

Since the point of origin is (0,0) so, (𝑥 − 0)2 + (𝑦 − 0)2 = 𝑟 2

𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 𝑟2

Comprehensive Guidelines on How to Graph a Circle Given its Standard Equation

Step 1: Identify the center then, plot.

Step 2: Solve for the radius.
Step 3: Determine at least 4 points on the circle by counting the r number of units from
the center going up, down, right and left.
Step 4:: Make a circle out of those 4 points.

Example 1. Sketch the graph of the circle given its standard equation
𝒙 𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟒
Step 1:Identify the center then, plot.
Since the given is the standard equation of a circle centered at the origin so, the
center is (0,0).
Step 2: Solve for the radius.
𝑟2 = 4

√𝑟 2 = √4

𝒓=𝟐

Step 3: Determine at least 4 points on the circle by counting the 𝑟 number of units from
the center going up, down, right and left.
Since the radius is 2 units, count 2 units from the center A(0,0) going up B(0, 2),
going down C(0, -2), going right D(2, 0), and going left E(-2, 0)
 Step 4: Make a circle out of those 4 points.

Example 2. Sketch the graph of the circle given the standard equation of the circle
𝒙𝟐 + (𝒚 + 𝟐)𝟐 = 𝟑𝟔

Step 1: Identify the center then, plot.

Rewriting the expressions of 𝑥 and 𝑦, we yield:

To solve for h: To solve for k:

𝑥=𝑜 𝑦+2=0
ℎ=𝑜 𝑦 = −2
𝑘 = −2
 The center is (𝟎, −𝟐).
Step 2: Solve for the radius.
𝑟 2 = 36

√𝑟 2 = √36

𝒓=𝟔

Step 3: Determine at least 4 points on the circle by counting the𝑟number of units from
the center going up, down, right and left.
Since the radius is 6 units, count 6 units from the center A(0,-2) going up B(0, 4),
going down C(0, -8), going right D(6, -2), and going left E(-6, -2)

Step 4: Make a circle out of those 4 points.

Example 3. Sketch the graph of the circle given
the standard equation of the circle
(𝒙 − 𝟕)𝟐 + (𝒚 + 𝟕)𝟐 = 𝟓𝟎
Step 1: Identify the center then, plot.
Rewrite the expressions of 𝑥 and 𝑦, we yield:

To solve for h: To solve for k:

𝑥−7=0 𝑦+7=0
𝑥=7 𝑦 = −7
ℎ=7 𝑘 = −7

The center is (𝟕, −𝟕).

 Step 2: Solve for the radius.
𝑟 2 = 50

√𝑟 2 = √50

𝑟 = 7.07106781
𝑟 ≈ 7.07

Step 3: Determine at least 4 points on the circle by counting the r number of units from
the center going up, down, right and left.
Since the radius is 7.07 units, count 7.07 units from the center A(7,-7) going up
B(7, 0.07), going down C(7, -14.07), going right D(14.07, -7), and going left
E(-0.07, -7)

Step 4: Make a circle out of those 4 points.

Example 4: Sketch the graph of the circle given the standard equation of the circle
(𝒙 + 𝟐)𝟐 (𝒚 + 𝟓)𝟐
+ =𝟏
𝟗 𝟗

Step 1: Identify the center then, plot.

Since the equation is not yet on the standard form of the circle, multiply both
sides of the equation by the denominator 9 yielding,

(𝑥 + 2)2 (𝑦 + 5)2
9[ + = 1] 9
9 9
(𝒙 + 𝟐)𝟐 + (𝒚 + 𝟓)𝟐 = 𝟗

Rewrite the expressions of 𝑥 and 𝑦, we yield;

To solve for h: To solve for k:
𝑥+2=0 𝑦+5=0
𝑥 = −2 𝑦 = −5
 ℎ = −2 𝑘 = −5

The center is(−𝟐, −𝟓).

Step 2: Solve for the radius.

𝑟2 = 9

√𝑟 2 = √9

𝒓=𝟑

Step 3: Determine at least 4 points on the circle by counting the 𝑟 number of units from
the center going up, down, right and left.
Since the radius is 3 units, count 3 units from the center A(-2,-5) going up
B(-2,-2), going down C(-2,-8), going right D(1,-5), and going left E(-5,-5)

Step 4: Make a circle out of those 4 points.

Comprehensive Guidelines on How to Determine the Standard Equation of the Circle
Given its Geometric Properties

Step 1: Identify the center.

Step 2. Determine the radius.
Step 3. If the circle is centered at (ℎ, 𝑘) , substitute the (ℎ, 𝑘) and radius to the standard
equation (𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟 2 .
If the circle is centered at (0,0), substitute the radius to the standard equation
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 𝑟 2.

Example 1: Write the standard equation of the circle with the given properties: C (2,3) and
radius is 4 units

Step 1: Identify the center.

The center is already given which is (2, 3) therefore, 𝒉 = 𝟐; 𝒌 = 𝟑.

Step 2: Determine the radius.

The radius is also given which is 4 therefore, 𝒓 = 𝟒.

Step 3:Substitute the (ℎ, 𝑘) and radius to the standard equation then, simplify.
(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟 2 .

[𝑥 − (2)]2 + [𝑦 − (3)]2 = (4)2

(𝒙 − 𝟐)𝟐 + (𝒚 − 𝟑)𝟐 = 𝟏𝟔

Example 2: Write the standard equation of the circle with the given properties: center at
the origin and (-3, 4) is a point on the circle.

Step 1: Identify the center.

The center is already given which is at the origin(0, 0).

 Step 2: Determine the radius.

The radius is not given. However, one point in a circle is given which is (−3, 4) denoted
by (𝑥, 𝑦) so, 𝑥 = −3 and 𝑦 = 4.

𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 𝑟2 To solve for the radius, use the standard

equation of the circle centered at the origin.

(−3)2 + (4)2 = 𝑟 2 Substitute the values of 𝑥 and y.

9 + 16 = 𝑟 2

25 = 𝑟 2
Simplify the equation.
√25 = √𝑟 2

5=𝑟

𝒓=𝟓
Step 3:Substitute (ℎ, 𝑘) and radius to the standard equation then, simplify.
Since the center is (0,0), use directly the standard equation of the circle centered
at the origin.
𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 𝑟2

𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 52

𝒙𝟐 + 𝒚𝟐 = 𝟐𝟓

Example 3: Write the standard equation of the circle with the given properties: C (2, -2)
and passes through C (-5, -1)
Step 1: Identify the center.

The center is already given which is (2, −2) therefore, 𝒉 = 𝟐; 𝒌 = −𝟐.

Step 2: Determine the radius.

The radius is not given. However, the circle passes through the point (−5, −1)
denoted by (𝑥, 𝑦) so, 𝑥 = −5 and 𝑦 = −1.

(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟 2 To solve for the radius, use the standard

 equation of the circle centered at (h, k).

[(−5) − (2)])2 + [(−1) − (−2)]2 = 𝑟 2 Substitute the values of (ℎ, 𝑘)and (x, y).

(−7)2 + (−1 + 2)2 = 𝑟 2

49 + 1 = 𝑟 2

50 = 𝑟 2 Simplify the equation.

√50 = √𝑟 2

7.07106781 = 𝑟

𝒓 = 7.07106781
Step 3: Substitute (ℎ, 𝑘) and radius to the standard equation then, simplify.

(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑥 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟 2

[𝑥 − (2)]2 + [𝑦 − (−2)]2 = (7.07106781)2

(𝑥 − 2)2 + (𝑦 + 2)2 = 50

Example 4: Write the standard equation of the circle with the given properties: endpoints
of a diameter are(-1, 2) and (5, 6).

Step 1: Identify the center.

There are two ways on how to identify the center since is it is not given. The first
one is the graphical method. Plot the following given endpoints of diameter (-1, 2) and
(5, 6).Then, locate the center/ middle point between them.
The center is located at (𝟐, 𝟒).
The second method is using the midpoint formula since the center is located between the
two endpoints of diameter. Let 𝑃1 (-1, 2) and 𝑃2 (5, 6)

𝑥1 + 𝑥2 𝑦1 + 𝑦2
𝑀=( , )
2 2
−1 + 5 2 + 6
𝑀=( , )
2 2
4 8
𝑀=( , )
2 2
𝑀 = (2,4)

Step 2: Determine the radius.

To solve for the radius, use the distance formula since r is the distance from the
center to any point on the circle. Let 𝑃1 (2,4) and 𝑃2 (5, 6)

𝑑 = √(𝑥2 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦2 − 𝑦1 )2
𝑑 = √(5 − 2)2 + (6 − 4)2
𝑑 = √(3)2 + (2)2
𝑑 = √9 + 4
𝑑 = √13
𝑑 = √13
Therefore, 𝒓 = √𝟏𝟑.
Step 3:Substitute (ℎ, 𝑘) and radius to the standard equation then, simplify.

(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟 2

[𝑥 − (2)]2 + [𝑦 − (4)]2 = (√13)2

(𝑥 − 2)2 + (𝑦 − 4)2 = 13

Real life problem:

1. A street with two lanes, each 10 ft wide, goes through a semicircular tunnel with radius
12 ft. How high is the tunnel at the edge of each lane? Round off to 2 decimal places.
Solution.

We draw a coordinate system with origin at the middle of the highway,as shown. Because
of the given radius, the tunnel’s boundary is on the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 122. Point P is the point on
the arc just above the edge of a lane, soit’s x-coordinate is 10. We need its y-coordinate. We then
3solve 102 + 𝑦 2 = 122 for y > 0, giving us 𝑦 = 2√11 ≈ 6.63 𝑓𝑡

2. A ferris wheel is elevated 1 m above ground. When a car reaches the highest point on
the ferris wheel, its altitude from ground level is 31 m. How far away from the center,
horizontally, is the car when it is at an altitude of 25 m?

Solution.

The ferris wheel, as shown below, is drawn 1 unit above the xaxis (ground level), center on the
yaxis, and highest point at y = 31. The diameter is thus 30, and the radius 15. We locate the center
at (0, 16), and write the equation of the circle as x2 + (y +16)2 = 152. If y = 25, we have x2 + (25
+ 16)2 = 152, so x2 = 152 92 = 144, and x = ±12. (Clearly, there are two points on the ferris wheel
at an altitude of 25 m.) Thus, the car is 12 m away horizontally from the center.