Lesson 2: Circle

Definition
A Circle is a set of points on the coordinate plane that are of equal
distance from a fixed point. The fixed point is called the center of the circle
and the equal distance is called the radius.

Point A denotes the center of the circle and 𝑨𝑩 denotes the radius.
 The equation of the circle is a second-degree polynomial in two
variables, that is,
Ax2 + Ay2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0
where A, D, E, F ∈ ℝ.
This is the general form of the equation of the circle.
(Note: The coefficients of x2- and y2- terms are the same.

Consider the graph of the circle below and the line that connects the origin to a
point on the circle. The origin is the center of the circle and the line connecting it to a
point on the circle is the radius.

As seen in the figure, x, y, and r form a right triangle. By the Pythagorean

relationship, we have x2 + y2 = r2. This equation is the standard form of the circle
whose center is the origin, also referred to as the center-radius form.
 Now let us consider the circle whose center is at point C(h,k) and with radius r,
as shown below.

Notice that r, x-h, and y-k form a right triangle. By Pythagorean relationship, we
have (x-h)2 + (y-k)2 = r2. This equation is the standard form or the center-radius form of
the equation of the circle with a center C(h,k) and radius r.

The summary is as follows:

Standard Forms of the Equation of the Circle

 With center (0,0) and radius r:
x 2 + y 2 = r2

 With center (0,0) and radius r:

(x-h)2 + (y-k)2 = r2
 Previously we have encountered the general equation of the circle, Ax2 + Ay2 +
Dx + Ey + F = 0 where A, D, E, F ∈ ℝ. To graph a circle given the general form of the
equation, we need to determine the center and radius. This can be done by
transforming the given general form to standard form. This process is illustrated below.

Illustration

1. Transform the equation x2 + y2 – 6 x + 14y – 6 = 0 to standard form.

x2 + y2 – 6 x + 14y – 6 = 0 Given
x2 + y2 – 6 x + 14y – 6 + 6 = 0 + 6 Addition property of equality
(x2– 6 x) + (y2 + 14y) = 6 Regrouping by variable
(x2– 6 x + 9) + (y2 + 14y + 49) = 6+9+49 Completing the squares; Addition
(x2– 6 x + 9) + (y2 + 14y + 49) = 64 property of equality
(x - 3)2 + (y + 7)2 = 64 Factoring the perfect square trinomials

Thus, the standard form of the given equation is (x - 3)2 + (y + 7)2 = 64 with center (3, -
7) and r = 8 since r2 = 64. Then the graph of this circle is shown below.
2. Convert the equation (x + 2)2 + (y – 3)2 = 10 to general form.

Solution:

To transform standard equation to general form, expand each perfect square binomial
and simplify.

(x + 2)2 + (y – 3)2 = 10 Given

(x2 + 4x + 4) + (y2 – 6y + 9) = 10 Expand each perfect square binomial
x2 + 4x + 4 + y2 – 6y + 9 = 10 Remove the parenthesis
x2 + 4x + y2 – 6y + 13 = 10 Combine like terms
Arrange the terms in ascending order;
x2 + y2 + 4x – 6y + 13 + (-10) = 10+ (-10)
Addition property of equality
2 2
x + y + 4x – 6y + 3 = 0 Simplify

Example 1
Transform the following general equations to standard form and determine the center
and radius of the circle. Then sketch the graph.

1. x2 + y2 – 6x + 2y + 6 = 0
2. x2 + y2 – 6x + 4y – 12 = 0
3. x2 + y2 + 2x + 2y – 7 = 0
4. x2 + y2 – 6x + 2y + 12 = 0
5. x2 + y2 – 6x + 2y + 10 = 0

Solution:

1. Transform the equation x2 + y2 – 6x + 2y + 6 = 0 to standard form.

x2 + y2 – 6x + 2y + 6 = 0 Given
x2 + y2 – 6x + 2y + 6 + (-6) = 0 + (-6) Addition property of equality
(x2– 6x) + (y2 + 2y) = - 6 Regrouping by variable
(x2– 6x + 9) + (y2 + 2y + 1) = - 6 + 9 + 1 Completing the squares; Addition
(x2– 6x + 9) + (y2 + 2y + 1) = 4 property of equality
(x - 3)2 + (y + 1)2 = 4 Factoring the perfect square trinomials
 Thus, the standard form of the given equation is (x - 3)2 + (y + 1)2 = 4 with center
(3,-1) and r = 2 since r2 = 4. Then the graph of this circle is shown below.

2. Transform the equation x2 + y2 – 6x + 4y – 12 = 0 to standard form.

x2 + y2 – 6x + 4y – 12 = 0 Given
x2 + y2 – 6x + 4y – 12 + 12 = 0 + 12 Addition property of equality
(x2 – 6x) +(y2 + 4y) = 12 Regrouping by variable
(x2 – 6x + 9) +(y2 + 4y + 4) = 12 + 9 + 4 Completing the squares; Addition
(x2 – 6x + 9) +(y2 + 4y + 4) = 25 property of equality
(x - 3)2 + (y + 2)2 = 25 Factoring the perfect square trinomials

Thus, the standard form of the given

equation is (x - 3)2 + (y + 2)2 = 25 with center (3,-
2) and r = 5 since r2 = 25. Then the graph of this
circle is shown below.
3. Transform the equation x2 + y2 + 2x + 2y – 7 = 0 to standard form.

x2 + y2 + 2x + 2y – 7 = 0 Given
x2 + y2 + 2x + 2y – 7 + 7 = 0 + 7 Addition property of equality
(x2 + 2x) + (y2 + 2y) = 7 Regrouping by variable
(x2 + 2x + 1) + (y2 + 2y + 1) = 7 + 1 + 1 Completing the squares; Addition
(x2 + 2x + 1) + (y2 + 2y + 1) = 9 property of equality
(x + 1)2 + (y + 1)2 = 9 Factoring the perfect square trinomials

Thus, the standard form of the given equation is (x + 1)2 + (y + 1)2 = 9 with center
(-1,-1) and r = 3 since r2 = 9. Then the graph of this circle is shown below.

4. Transform the equation x2 + y2 – 6x + 2y + 12 = 0 to standard form.

x2 + y2 – 6x + 2y + 12 = 0 Given
x2 + y2 – 6x + 2y + 12 + (-12) = 0 + (-12) Addition property of equality
(x2 – 6x) + (y2 + 2y) = -12 Regrouping by variable
(x2 – 6x + 9) + (y2 + 2y + 1) = -12 + 9 + 1 Completing the squares; Addition
(x2 – 6x + 9) + (y2 + 2y + 1) = -2 property of equality
(x – 3)2 + (y + 1)2 = -2 Factoring the perfect square trinomials

From the standard form (x – 3)2 + (y + 1)2 = -2, the center is at (3, -1). But with r2
= -2, can we find a real number r? Can we sketch the graph of this equation? Since r =
√ is imaginary, there is no graph formed.
5. Transform the equation x2 + y2 – 6x + 2y + 10 = 0 to standard form.

x2 + y2 – 6x + 2y + 10 = 0 Given
x2 + y2 – 6x + 2y + 10 + (-10)= 0 + (-10) Addition property of equality
(x2 – 6x) + (y2 + 2y) = -10 Regrouping by variable
(x2 – 6x + 9) + (y2 + 2y + 1) = -10 + 9 + 1 Completing the squares; Addition
(x2 – 6x + 9) + (y2 + 2y + 1) = 0 property of equality
(x – 3)2 + (y + 1)2 = 0 Factoring the perfect square trinomials

Clearly, the center of the circle is at (3,-1). Notice that r2 = 0 so the radius of the circle is
0, which results in a degenerated form, a point.

When the equation of the circle is written in standard form, we can consider
certain conditions to determine the existence of the graph based on the value of r2. This
is shown in the table below.

Condition Graph
r2 < 0 Empty Set
r2 = 0 Point
r2 > = 0 Circle
Example 2
Consider the standard forms we obtain in Example 1. Then let us use the
previous table to determine the existence of the graph.

1. (x - 3)2 + (y + 1)2 = 4
Since r2 = 4, then r2 > 0. Thus, the graph of the equation is a circle.

2. (x - 3)2 + (y + 2)2 = 25
Since r2 = 25, then r2 > 0. Thus, the graph of the equation is a circle.

3. (x + 1)2 + (y + 1)2 = 9
Since r2 = 9, then r2 > 0. Thus, the graph of the equation is a circle.

4. (x – 3)2 + (y + 1)2 = -2
Since r2 = -2, then r2 < 0. Thus, the graph of the equation is a n empty set,
meaning the graph doesn’t exist.

5. (x – 3)2 + (y + 1)2 = 0
Since r2 = 0, then the graph of the equation is a just a point.
Example 3

A. Find the equation of the circle in general form with center at (2,3) and whose
radius is 3 units.

Solution:

It is given that radius r = 3, and center (h,k) is (2,3) where h = 2 and k = 3.

Substitute the given values in the standard form of the equation of the circle (x-h)2 + (y-
k)2 = r2. Then

(x-2)2 + (y-3)2 = 32 Substitute the given values

x2 – 4x + 4 + y2 – 6y + 9 = 9 Expand each binomial
x2 + y2 – 4x – 6y + 13 = 9 Arrange in ascending order; combine
like terms
x2 + y2 – 4x – 6y + 13 + (-9) = 9 + (-9) Addition property of equality
x2 + y2 – 4x – 6y + 4 = 0 Simplify.

Hence, the required equation is x2 + y2 – 4x – 6y + 4 = 0.

B. Find the equation of the circle with a center at (-1,4) and is tangent to the y-
axis.

Solution:

From the figure, the radius of the circle r = 1. Also, it is given that h = -1 and k =4.
Substitute the given values in the standard form of the equation of the circle
(x-h)2 + (y-k)2 = r2. Then we have

(x-(-1))2 + (y-4)2 = 1
(x+1)2 + (y-4)2 = 1  standard form of the equation

To transform the obtained equation in general form, we will have

(x+1)2 + (y-4)2 = 1 Standard form of the equation

x2 + 2x + 1 + y2 – 8y + 16 = 1 Expand each binomial
x2 + y2 + 2x – 8y + 17 = 1 Arrange in ascending order; combine
like terms
x2 + y2 + 2x – 8y + 17 + (-1) = 1 + (-1) Addition property of equality
x2 + y2 + 2x – 8y + 16 = 0 Simplify.

Hence, the general equation is x2 + y2 + 2x – 8y + 16 = 0.

C. The endpoints of a diameter of a circle are (-2,3) and (1,7). Find the equation of
the circle in general form.

Solution:

Given the ends of the diameter (-2,3) and (1,7), its length can be found by using
the distance formula d=√ . Let d be the diameter of the circle.
Then,

d=√
d=√
d=√
d=√
d= 5

The diameter of the circle is 5. Since the radius is half of its diameter, then r = .
Next, find center of the circle. Since center is the midpoint of the diameter, let us use the
midpoint formula , . Substituting the given values into the formula, we have
, = , .
 Congratulations!
I hope you learned a lot from this lesson.

*Disclaimer: Not all texts in this module are original of the writer. Most of them
are excerpts from the references that are mentioned in this module.

Prepared by:
Ms. ROCHELLE S. TOLENTINO, LPT
Faculty, CEIS-Malolos