CIRCLES

OBJECTIVES:

At the end of the lesson, the student is expected to be

able to:
• Determine the center and radius of the circle given
an equation.
• Determine the general and standard form of
equation of the circle given some geometric
conditions.
• Convert general equation of a circle to the standard
form and vice-versa
 CIRCLE
A circle is a locus of points that moves in a plane at a constant distance
from a fixed point. The fixed point is called the center and the distance from
the center to any point on the circle is called the radius.
Parts of a Circle:
● Center - It is in the center of the circle and the distance from this point
to any other point on the circumference is the same.
● Radius - The distance from the centre to any point on the circle is called
the radius. A diameter is twice the distance of a radius.
● Circumference - The distance around a circle is its circumference. It is also
the perimeter of the circle
● Chord - A chord is a straight line joining two points on the
circumference. The longest chord in a circle is called a
diameter. The diameter passed through the center.
● Segment - A segment of a circle is the region enclosed by a
chord and an arc of the circle.
● Secant - A secant is a straight line cutting at two distinct points.
● Tangent - If a straight line and a circle have only one point of
contact, then that line is called a tangent. A tangent is always
perpendicular to the radius drawn to the point of contact.
 EQUATION OF THE CIRCLE
y

P(x,y)

r
C(h,k)
y
k

o x
h

x
Let:
C (h, k) - coordinates of the center of the circle
r - radius of the circle
P (x, y) - coordinates of any point along the circle
From the figure: Distance CP = radius ( r )
Recall the distance formula:

Squaring both sides of the equation:

r2 = (x – h)2 + (y – k)2
The equation is also called the center-radius form or the
Standard Form. (x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r2
If the center of the circle is at the origin (0, 0):
h=0 k=0
C (h, k) C (0, 0)

From: (x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r2

(x – 0)2 + (y – 0)2 = r2
x2 + y2 = r2 → (Center at the origin)
From: (x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r2 → Standard Form
Center at (h, k): (x2 – 2hx + h2) + (y2 – 2ky + k2) = r2
x2 + y2 – 2hx – 2ky + h2 + k2 - r2= 0
Let: -2h = D
-2k = E CONSTANTS
h2 + k2 - r2 = F

Therefore,
x2 + y2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0 →General Form
Examples:

1. If the center of the circle is at C(3, 2) and the radius is 4 units, find the
equation of the circle
2. Find the equation of the circle having (8, 1) and (4,-3) as ends of a
diameter.
3. Reduce to standard form and draw the circle whose equation is 4x2 +
4y2 – 4x – 8y – 31 = 0.
4. Find the equation of the circle passing through the intersection of 2x-
3y+6=0 and x+3y-6=0 with center at (3,-1).
5. Find the equation of the circle with center (-1, 7) and tangent to the
line 3x – 4y + 6 = 0.
 REFERENCES

Analytic Geometry, 6th Edition, by Douglas F. Riddle

Analytic Geometry, 7th Edition, by Gordon Fuller/Dalton Tarwater
Analytic Geometry, by Quirino and Mijares