Module 3

Chapter III
The Circles
3.1. Equation and Its Graph
3.2. Families of Circles

1
 Objectives:

At the end of the chapter, the student should be able to:

1. define a circle;
2. identify and determine the variables that make up the
equation of a circle;
3. determine the equation of the circle based on the given
condition/s;
4. write the standard form of equation to its equivalent general
form and conversely;
5. graph accurately the equation of circle;
6. determine the equation of the radical axis; and
7. determine the equation of families of circles based on the
given conditions.

2
 Learning Activities/Content

3.1. EQUATIONS AND GRAPHS

This section aims to:

1. define a circle;
2. identify and determine the variables that make up the equation
of a circle;
3. determine the equation of the circle base on the given
condition/s;
4. write the standard form of equation to its equivalent general
form and conversely; and
5. graph accurately the equation of circle.

A circle is the set of all points on a plane

that are equidistant from a fixed point on the
plane. The fixed point is called the center, , and 𝒓
the distance from the center to any point on the 𝑪
circumference of the circle is called the radius,
denoted by .

Let the center of a circle be a fixed

point , the radius be equal to and
be a point on the circumference of the 𝒓
𝑷 𝒙𝒚
circle, then the distance from to is equal 𝑪 𝒉𝒌
to . This leads to

by using the distance formula. And by squaring or

Hence it is the standard equation of the circle or the so called center-radius

form.

3
 Expanding the binomials in standard form

this lead to the general equation of the circle

where , , and

Let the center of a circle be at the origin and let the radius
again be equal to . Then,

Hence, it is the standard equation of the circle with center at the origin.

The Graph of a Circle

The graph of a circle can easily be determined based on its equation in

standard form. If the right member of the equation, i.e. , is positive, the
equation has a graph, moreover, if it is equal to one, it is called a unit circle. If
is zero, the graph of the equation is a point circle, but when it is negative,
since no real values of and will satisfy the equation, thence it has no
graph.

Example 1: Reduce the equation in

standard form and determine the coordinates of its
center, the measure of its radius and the nature of its
graph.

Solution: In the given equation, ,

separate the terms, those with variables on the left
and the constant on the right side of the equation. By
completing the square

4
 Answer: The equation of the circle in standard form is
with center at (-4, 2) and of
radius 1. Since the radius is positive, particularly
positive 1, then the graph is a circle, and this is called a
unit circle.

Illustration:
y

C 2

x
-4 O

Example 2: Reduce the equation

in standard form and determine the coordinates of its
center, the measure of its radius and the nature of its
graph.

Solution: In the given equation,

, separate the terms, those with
variables on the left and the constant on the right
side of the equation. Thus,

divide the whole equation by 16 to have the

equation in the form of

then by completing the square

( ) ( )

5
 Answer: Illustration:

The equation of the circle y

1
in standard form is
C

( ) ( )

with center at (½, ¾) and of O 1 x

radius 0. Since the radius is
equal to zero, then its graph
is a point circle.

Example 3: Reduce the equation in

standard form and determine the coordinates of its
center, the measure of its radius and the nature of its
graph.

Solution: In the given equation, ,

separate the terms, those with variables on the left
and the constant on the right side of the equation.
Thus,

which is now in the form of

then by completing the square

Answer: The equation in standard form is

however, since , then the
equation has no graph.

6
Equations of Circle

Example 1: Find the equation of the circle with center at the origin and of radius
2. Sketch the graph.

Solution: Given thus, the equation would be

or .

Answer: Illustration:
y
The equation of the circle with
center at the origin and of radius 2 is
in standard form or
in general form. O X

Example 2: Find the equation of the circle with center at (3, -2) and of radius ½.
Sketch the graph.

Solution: Given thus, the equation would be

Answer: Illustration:
Y
The equation of the circle with
center at (3, -2) and of radius ½ is O 3 X
in
standard form while
in general
-2 C
form.

7
 Example 3: Find the equation of the circle with center at (-2, -1) and of radius
√ . Sketch the graph.

Solution: Given √ thus, the equation would be

√

Answer: The equation of the circle with center at (-2, -1) and of radius √ is
in standard form while
in general form.

Illustration: Y

-2 O X
C -1

Example 4: Find the equation of the circle concentric to

and passes through the origin. Sketch the graph.

Solution: Concentric circles mean circles of the same center, thus writing
in its equivalent standard form is

8
 Thus, the center of the circle is at point (3, 0).

To solve for , that is the distance between the center (3, 0) and
the origin, which is .

Answer: Illustration:
Y
The equation of the circle
concentric to O
and passes through the origin is
in standard form C X
3
while in general
form.

Example 5: Find the equation of the circle with center at (0, -3) and passes
through the point (-2, 2). Sketch the graph.

Solution: Given and a point on the circle First find the

radius, r, which is equal to the distance between the center to the
point on the circle, i.e.
√ √
thus, the equation would be
√

Answer: The equation of the circle with center at (0, -3) and passes through
the point (-2, 2) is in standard form while
in general form.

9
 Illustration:

-2 O x

-3 C

Example 6: Find the equation of the circle C with the points A(4, -2) and B(-2, 4)
as the ends of a diameter. Sketch the graph.

Solution: Given are the endpoints of the diameter which is at and

. The diameter is the chord connecting two points on the
circle that passes through the center, with this information the
midpoint of the segment defined by A(4, -2) and B(-2, 4) represents
the center of the circle. Thus,

( )
The length of the diameter of a circle is twice its radius, thus solve for
the radius r, .

√
√

So the center of the circle is at the point (1, 1) and the radius is √ .

10
 Answer: Illustration:

The equation of the circle C

with the points A(4, -2) and
B(-2, 4) as the ends of a diameter
is in
standard form while
in
general form.

Example 7: Find the equation of the circle passing through (6, 0) and (-1, 7) and
with center on 2x – 3y + 6 = 0. Sketch the graph.

Solution: The center of the circle is on the line 2x – 3y + 6 = 0 which is

equidistant from A(-1, 7) and B(6, 0). That is,

√ =√

Solving the system of: – and , the

two lines intersect at which represents the center of the circle.

The radius is through the center (3, 4) and to a point (-1, 7) or

(6, 0). Using the point A(-1, 7),

r=√ = 5

11
 Answer: Illustration:

The equation of the circle

passing through (6, 0) and (-1, 7)
and with center on 2x – 3y + 6 = 0
is in
standard form while
in general
form.

Example 8: Find the equation of the circle passing through the points (-1, -5),
(7, -5) and (6, -6). Sketch the graph.

Solution: Consider the general form of the circle

where the arbitrary constants and are to be determined. First,

substitute the coordinates of the three given points to the equation
for (-1, -5):
26 – D - 5E + F = 0
for (7, -5):
74 +7D - 5E + F = 0
for (6, -6):
72 + 6D - 6E + F = 0

Then by solving the system of equations gives values for D = -6, E = 4

and F = -12.

Answer: The equation of the Illustration:

circle passing through the
points (-1, -5), (7, -5) and (6, -
6) is

in general form while

in
the standard form.

12
Example 9: Find the equation of the circle passing through the points (2, 3) and
(4, 3) and has radius 3. Sketch the graph.
Solution: Given are the radius of the circle which is equal to 3 and the points
where the circle passed through, (2, 3) and (4, 3). Consider the center
– radius form . Substitute the coordinates of
the points and the value of the radius and obtain the following
equations:

for (2, 3) and :

for (4, 3) and :

Then by solving the system of equations gives values for h = 3

and √ .

Answer: There are two circles which Illustration:

passes through the given points
with radius 3, one is with
standard equation of
√
and the other is
. The general
√
form of these equations are
( √ )
√ and
( √ ) √ .

Example 10: Find the equation of the circle C with center at (2, 3) and tangent to
the line . Sketch the graph.

Solution: Note that the distance from the center (2, 3) to the line 𝓁 is the
radius of the circle. That is,

| | | | √
= = = =
√ √ √

13
 Answer: The equation of the Illustration:
circle C with center at (2, 3)
and tangent to the line
𝓁 is
in
standard form while

in general form.

Example 11: Find the equation of the circle C tangent to 3x + 2y = 0 at the point
(0, 0) and passing through A(1, -1) and B(6, 0). Sketch the graph.

Solution: The center of the circle will lie on the line perpendicular to the line
= 0 through (0, 0). That is,
𝓁 : – = 4(0) - 3(0) = 0 2x – 3y = 0

The center of the circle also belongs to the locus whose distances from
(1, -1) and (6, 0) are equal.

√ =√
=
=

Solving the system of equation, the two lines intersect at which

represents the center of the circle. The radius is
r=√ =√ =√

Answer: The equation of the Illustration:

circle C tangent to 3x + 2y =
0 at the point (0, 0) and
passing through A(1, -1) and
B(6, 0) is
in standard
form while
in general form.

14
Example 12: Find the equation of the circle C tangent to both axes and
containing the point (8, -1). Sketch the graph.

Solution: The three conditions in the problem are:

Solving for the value of , these equations leads to

which is equal to and gives values for .

When r = 5, the center of the circle is (5, -5) while when r = 13, the
center of the circle is at (13, -13)

Answer: Illustration:

There are two equations of

circle C tangent to both axes and
containing the point (8, -1),
these are
– and
–
in standard form while in
general form

and
.

15
16
 EXERCISES 3.1

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Score: ______________

Section: ___________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________

I. Write the following general equations of circle into its standard form and for
each determine the coordinates of the center, the length of the radius, and
describe the graph it represents.

1.

2.

3.

4.

17
 II. Give the equation of the circle through the given conditions and sketch the
graph.

1. Center at (-2, -3) and radius r = 6

2. With center (-1, -3) and passing through (4, 3)

18
3. With center (-2, 3) and passing through the intersection of 2x – y + 5 = 0 and
2x + 3y + 5 = 0.

4. Having (3, 0) and (-1, 3) as ends of the diameter.

19
 5. Passing through (3, -1), (5, 5) and (-1, -1).

6. Find the equation/s of the circle/s circumscribed about the triangle with
vertices (2, 3), (0, 5) and (0, -1).

20
7. Find the equation/s of the circle/s circumscribed about the triangle with the
following equations serve as the sides: x + y = 1, y = x + 5, and y = - 5x + 9.

8. With center at (2, 1) and tangent to 2x – y + 5 = 0

21
 9. Tangent to the x-axis with center on x + 4y = 5.

10. Tangent to the y-axis with center on 3x +2y = 6.

22
11. Passing through (1, 3) and tangent to the lines x – 3y = 6 and y = 3x.

12. Tangent to x – 3y + 10 = 0 and 3x – y -10 = 0 and having the center at the line x -
y = 0 with radius of √ .

23
24
3.2. FAMILIES OF CIRCLES

This section aims to:

1. determine the equation of the radical axis; and

2. determine the equation of families of circles based on the given

conditions.

To find the equation of the family of circles passing through the intersection
of two circles use the general form of the circles with parameter k, say

The equation of the family of circles through the intersections is defined as:

When k = -1, ( is a line connecting

the two intersection points of two circles which is known as the radical axis.

Example 1: Determine the equation of family of circles where members pass

through the intersection of the circles

0.
Find the equation of the member of the family containing the point
(7, 1). Find the equation of the radical axis.

Solution: The family of the circles through the intersection of is:

.
The particular member of the family containing point (7, 1) is
.
Solving for the value of k, .
Hence, the equation of
Solving for the radical axis,
.
Then the equation of the radical axis is 3 – 2 -16 = 0.

25
 Illustration:

Example 2: Find the family of circles whose center is at (5, 4).

Solution: The family of the circle would be any value for the radius r for as
long as the center is at (5, 4). That is,

where k > - 41

Illustration:

26
 XERCISES 3.2

Name: _____________________________________________________________ Score: ______________

Section: ___________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________

I. Write the equation of the family of circle passing through the intersection of each
pair of given circles. Also, find the equation of the radical axis.

1. ;

2.

27
 II. Solve the following problems:

1. The family of circles with center on y = 4x and passing through the origin. Find
its member C passing through (2, 8).

2. The family of circles through the intersection of = 9 and

. Find its member C which is tangent to x = 7.

3. The family of circles whose center is on the line y = 2x and tangent to the x – axis.
Find the members through (3, 12).

28
4. The family of circles with center on the line y = x and tangent to both axis. Find
the members through (6, 3).

5. The family of the circle with center on y = 3x and tangent to the y – axis.

29