The Coordinate Geometry of the Circle

Exercise 2: Coordinate Geometry - solutions

1. The circle C has equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 4𝑥 + 6𝑦 − 7 = 0.

𝐿1 is the tangent to C at point P (4,1).

𝐿2 is the tangent to C at point Q (6, −5).

𝐿1 and 𝐿2 intersect at point R.

Find the coordinates of R and the area of the triangle PQR.

𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 4𝑥 + 6𝑦 − 7 = 0

(𝑥 − 2)2 + (𝑦 + 3)2 = 20

The centre of the circle is at (2, −3)

4
The gradient of the line joining the centre to the point (4,1) is 2 = 2

1
The gradient of the tangent 𝐿1 through (4,1) is − 2

1
The equation of the tangent 𝐿1 through (4,1) is 𝑦 − 1 = − 2 (𝑥 − 4)
which simplifies to
2𝑦 − 2 = −𝑥 + 4
𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 6 (1)
 2 1
The gradient of the line joining the centre to the point (6, −5) is − 4 = − 2

The gradient of the tangent 𝐿2 through (6, −5) is 2

The equation of the tangent 𝐿2 through (6, −5) is 𝑦 + 5 = 2(𝑥 − 6)

which simplifies to
𝑦 + 5 = 2𝑥 − 12
2𝑥 − 𝑦 = 17 (2)

Solving (1) and (2) simultaneously gives the point of intersection 𝑅 of the two tangents.

(1) × 2 2𝑥 + 4𝑦 = 12
(2) 2𝑥 − 𝑦 = 17

Subtracting gives 5𝑦 = −5 ⇒ 𝑦 = −1
Substituting into (1): 𝑥 − 2 = 6 ⇒ 𝑥 = 8

𝑅 is the point (8, −1)

The gradients indicate that we are dealing with a number of perpendicular lines.
The centre of the circle, and the points 𝑃, 𝑄 and 𝑅 form the vertices of a square.

To check that this is the case, the distance from 𝑃 (4,1) to R can be calculated:
𝑃𝑅 = √(8 − 4)2 + (−1 − 1)2 = √20 which is the same as the radius of the circle.

The area of the square is 20 sq. units so the area of the triangle 𝑃𝑄𝑅 = 10 sq. units.
2. This diagram shows a circle and two tangents to the circle. The tangents intersect at the point (8,9).

One of the tangents touches the circle at the point (2,7) and the other touches the circle at (10,3)

Find the equation of the circle in the form (𝑥 − 𝑎)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑏)2 = 𝑟 2 where 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑟 are values to be found.

2 1
The gradient of tangent through (2,7) = =
6 3

The gradient of the line joining the centre to the point (2,7) is −3

The equation of the line along the radius through (2,7) is 𝑦 − 7 = −3(𝑥 − 2)
which simplifies to
𝑦 − 7 = −3𝑥 + 6
3𝑥 + 𝑦 = 13 (1)

6
The gradient of tangent through (10,3) = − 2 = −3

1
The gradient of the line joining the centre to the point (10,3) is 3

1
The equation of the line along the radius through (10,3) is 𝑦 − 3 = 3 (𝑥 − 10)
which simplifies to
3𝑦 − 9 = 𝑥 − 10
𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 1 (2)

Solving (1) and (2) simultaneously gives the point of intersection 𝑅 of the two tangents.

(1) 3𝑥 + 𝑦 = 13
(2) × 3 3𝑥 − 9𝑦 = 3
 Subtracting gives 10𝑦 = 10 ⇒ 𝑦 = 1
Substituting into (2): 𝑥 − 3 = 1 ⇒ 𝑥 = 4

The centre of the circle is at (4,1)

The radius of the circle is the distance between the centre and the point (2,7)

Radius = √36 + 4 = √40 = 2√10

The equation of the circle is (𝑥 − 4)2 + (𝑦 − 1)2 = 40

3. Circle A has equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 2𝑥 + 4𝑦 = 0 and circle B has equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 18𝑥 − 6𝑦 + 70 = 0.

Find the equations of the two circles that have a centre on the line joining the centres of A and B and touch both
A and B once.

The equations of the two circles are

𝐴: (𝑥 + 1)2 + (𝑦 + 2)2 = 5

𝐵: (𝑥 − 9)2 + (𝑦 − 3)2 = 20

The centre of 𝐴 is at (−1, −2) and the centre of 𝐵 is at (9,3)

The radius of 𝐴 is √5 and the radius of 𝐵 is 2√5

The distance between the centres of 𝐴 and 𝐵 is √25 + 100 = √125 = 5√5
By similar triangles, the two marked points that are the ends of the diameter of the inner
circle are at (5,1) and (1, −1)

The centre of the inside circle is at the mid point of (5,1) and (1, −1) i.e. (3,0)

1
The radius of the inside circle is (5√5 − 2√5 − √5) = √5
2

The equation of the inside circle is (𝑥 − 3)2 + 𝑦 2 = 5

The ends of the diameter of the outside circle are at (13,5) and (−3, −3)

The centre of the outside circle is at the mid point of (13,5) and (−3, −3) i.e. (5,1)

1
The radius of the outside circle is (5√5 + 2√5 + √5) = 4√5
2

The equation of the inside circle is (𝑥 − 5)2 + (𝑦 − 1)2 = 80

4. The chord AB, on circle C lies on the line 𝑦 = 1. Circle C has equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 6𝑥 + 2𝑦 + 2 = 0.

Point D lies on the circumference of the circle below the chord 𝐴𝐵 such that ABD is an isosceles triangle with a
line of symmetry at 𝑥 = 3.

Find the area of the triangle ABD.

At 𝑦 = 1, 𝑥 2 + 1 − 6𝑥 + 2 + 2 = 0 (substituting into the equation of the circle)

𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 5 = 0

(𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 − 1) = 0

𝑥 = 5 or 𝑥 = 1

The “base” of the triangle (considering it to be upside down) is 5 − 1 = 4 units

At 𝑥 = 3, 9 + 𝑦 2 − 18 + 2𝑦 + 2 = 0 (substituting into the equation of the circle)

𝑦 2 + 2𝑦 − 7 = 0

(𝑦 + 1)2 − 8 = 0

(𝑦 + 1)2 = 8

𝑦 + 1 = ±2√2

𝑦 = −1 − 2√2 since 𝐷 is below 𝐴𝐵.

The “height” of the triangle is 1 − (−1 − 2√2) = 2 + 2√2

1
The area of the triangle is 2 × 4 × (2 + 2√2) = 4 + 4√2 sq. units
5. Circle A has equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 2𝑥 − 2𝑦 = 30 and circle B has equation 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 16𝑥 − 16𝑦 + 78 = 0.

Find the equation of the largest circle that has its centre on the line joining the centres of A and B and is
enclosed by both A and B.

𝐴: (𝑥 − 1)2 + (𝑦 − 1)2 = 32

𝐵: (𝑥 − 8)2 + (𝑦 − 8)2 = 50

𝐴: Centre (1,1) radius 4√2

𝐵: Centre (8,8) radius 5√2

Distance between centres = √72 + 72 = 7√2

By similar triangles, the ends of the diameter of the inside circle are at (5,5) and (3,3)

The centre of the inside circle is at (4,4)

The radius of the inside circle is √2

The equation of the inside circle is (𝑥 − 4)2 + (𝑦 − 4)2 = 2