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9-3 Mathematical Literacy and Vocabulary
Circles in the Coordinate Plane

Problem
What is the equation of the circle with center ​(3, −1)​that passes through
the point (1, 2)?

Step 1  Use the center and the point on the circle to find the radius.
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​r = ​√ ​(   
​x​ 2​​ − ​x​ 1​​)​​  2​ + ​( ​y​ 2​​ − ​y​ 1​​)​​  2​ ​​ Use the Distance Formula to find r.
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​r = √​  ​(  
1 − 3)​​  2​ + (2−​(−1))​​  2​ ​​ Substitute ​(3, −1)​ for ​(​x​ 1​​, ​y​ 1​​)​and (1, 2) for ​(​x​ 2​​, ​y​ 2​​)​.
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​r = √​  ​(  
−2)​​  2​ + ​(3)​​  2​ ​​ Simplify.
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​r = ​√ 13 ​​
  Simplify.

Step 2  Use the radius and the center to write an equation.

​​(x − h)​​  2​ + ​(y − k)​​  2​ = ​r​​  2​​ Use the standard form of an equation of a circle.
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​​(x − 3)​​  2​ + (y − ​(−1))​​  2​ = (​​ √    )​​​  ​​
​13 ​  Substitute ​(3, −1)​ for ​(h, k)​ and ​​√13 ​​
   for ​r​.

​​(x − 3)​​  2​ + ​(y + 1)​​  2​ = 13​ Simplify.

Exercise
What is the equation of the circle with center ​(−2, 5)​that passes through
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the point ​(4, −1)​? Write the steps and instructions to find the equation.

Step 1  Use the center and the point on the circle to find the radius.
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​r = √ ​x​ 2​​ − ​x​ 1​​)​​  2 ​+ ​( ​y​ 2​​ − ​y​ 1​​)​​  2​ ​​
​  ​(   Use the distance formula to find ​r​.
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​r = √​     
(4 − (−2)​)​​  2​ + (−1 − 5​)​​  2​ ​​ Substitute ​(−2, 5)​for ​(​x​ 1​​, ​y​ 1​​) ​and ​
(4, −1)​ for ​(​x​ 2​​, ​y​ 2​​)​.
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​r = √ 6)​​  2​ + ​(−6)​​  2​ ​​
​  ​(   Simplify.
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​r = √
​  72 ​​   Simplify.
Step 2  Use the radius and the center to write an equation.
​​(x − h)​​  2​ + ​(y − k)​​  2​ = ​r​​  2​​ Use the standard form of an equation
of a circle.
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___ 2
​(x − (−2) ​)​​  2​ + ​(y − 5)​​  2​ = (​​ √
​  72 ​  )​​​  ​​ Substitute (​ −2, 5)​for ​(h, k)​ and √
​​  72 ​​ for ​r​.
​​(x + 2)​​  2​ + ​(y − 5)​​  2​ = 72​ Simplify.
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