Chapter 12

Conics
12.1 Distance & Midpoint Formulas
12.2 Circles

Section 12.1 Objectives

1 Use the Distance Formula
2 Use the Midpoint Formula

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The Distance Formula

The Distance Formula
The distance between two points P1 = (x1, y1) and P2 = (x2, y2),
is

d (P1, P2) (x2 x1) 2 ( y2 y1) 2

y

P2 = (x2, y2)

d(P1, P2)

|y2 y1|

P2 =(x1, y1)
|x2 x1|
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The Distance Formula

Example:
Determine the distance between (3, 5) and (3, 3).

d (x2 x1) 2 ( y2 y1) 2

[3 (3)]2 [3 (5)]2
6 2 82

36 64
100
10
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The Distance Formula

Example:
Find the distance between ( 6, 6) and ( 5, 2).

d (x2 x1) 2 ( y2 y1) 2

[5 (6)] [2 (6)]
2

(5 6) 2 (2 6) 2
(1) 2 (4)2
1 16
17 4.123
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The Midpoint Formula

The midpoint of a line segment is the point located
exactly halfway between the two endpoints of the line
segment.
The Midpoint Formula
The midpoint M = (x, y) of the line segment from
P1 = (x1, y1) to P2 = (x2, y2) is
x1 x2 y1 y2
M
,
.

2
2

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The Midpoint Formula

Example:
Find the midpoint of the line segment joining P1 = (0, 8) and P2
= (4, 6).

x1 x2 y1 y2
M
,

2
2

0 4 8 (6)

2
2

4 2
,
2 2
2,1
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-8

M = (2, 1)

-8

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Chapter 12
Conics

Section 2
Circles

Section 12.2 Objectives

1 Write the Standard Form of the Equation of a
Circle
2 Graph a Circle
3 Find the Center and Radius of a Circle from an
Equation in General Form

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Conic Sections
Conics, an abbreviation for conic sections are curves that result
from the intersection of a right circular cone and a plane. The four
conics are shown below.
Axis

Axis

Axis

Axis

Circle

Ellipse

Parabola

Hyperbola

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Radius and Center

A circle is a set of all points in the Cartesian plain that are a fixed
distance r from a fixed point (h, k). The fixed distance r is called the
radius, and the fixed point (h, k) is called the center of the circle.

(h, k)

(x, y)
r

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Standard Form of a Circle

The standard form of an equation of a circle with radius r
and center (h, k) is
(x h)2 + (y k)2 = r2.
Example:
Determine the equation of the circle with radius 4 and center ( 5, 2).
(x h)2 + (y k)2 = r2
center ( 5, 2)

r=4

(x ( 5))2 + (y (2))2 = 42
(x + 5)2 + (y 2)2 = 16
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Graphing a Circle
Example:
Graph the equation (x + 5)2 + (y 2)2 = 16.
y

h = 5, k = 2
r=4

( 5, 6)

The center is ( 5, 2).

The radius is 4.

8
6
4

( 5, 2)

( 9, 2)

( 1, 2)

x
8

6 4 2

( 5, 2)

4
6
8

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General Form of a Circle

The general form of the equation of a circle is given by
the equation
x2 + y2 + ax + by + c = 0
when the graph exists.
Example:
Determine the equation of the circle: x2 + y2 + 2x 8y + 8 = 0
(x2 + 2x) + (y2 8y) = 8

Regroup the terms.

(x2 + 2x + 1) + (y2 8y + 16) = 8 + 1 + 16

Complete the square in
both x and y.
(x + 1)2 + (y 4)2 = 9
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Factor.

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