STRAIGHT LINES

STRAIGHT LINES

1. Relation between cartesian co-ordinate & Polar co-ordinate system:

If (x,y) are cartesian co-ordinates of a point P, then : x = r cos , y= r sin  and
-1  y 
r= x 2 + y 2 , θ = tan  
x

2. Distance formula and its Applications:

If A(x1,y1) and B(x2,y2) are two points, then A B = (x 2 -x 1 ) 2 + (y 2 -y 1 ) 2
Note :
(i) Three given points A,B and C are collinear, if sum of any two distances from AB,BC, CA is
equal to the remaining third else the points will be the vertices of a triangle.
(ii) Let A,B,C & D be the four given points in a plane. Then the
quadrilateral will be :
(a) Square if AB = BC = CD = DA & AC = BD ; AC  BD
(b) Rhombus if AB = BC = CD = DA and AC  BD; AC  BD
(c) Parallelogram if AB = DC, BC = AD; AC  BD;AC C  BD
(d) Rectangle if AB = CD, BC = DA, AC = BD ; AC  BD

3. Section Formula:
The co-ordinates of a point dividing a line joining the points A(x1,y1) and B(x2,y2) in the ratio
m:n is given by :
 mx 2  nx1 my2  ny1 
(a) For internal division :  , 
 mn mn 
 mx 2  nx1 my2  ny1 
(b)For external division :  , 
 mn mn 
(ax1  by 1  c)
(c) Line ax + by + c = 0 divides line joining points P(x1y1) & Q(x2y2) in ratio = – (ax  by  c)
2 2

 x1  x2 y1  y 2 
(d) Coordinates of mid point of AB are  , 
 2 2 

4. Co-ordinates of some particular points :

Let A  x1 ,y1  , B  x2 ,y2  and C  x3 ,y 3  are vertices of any triangle ABC, then

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(a) Centroid :

(i) Centroid is the point of concurrence of the medians (line segment joining the mid point
of sides to opposite vertices).
(ii) Centroid divides the median in the ratio of 2 :1.
 x1  x 2  x 3 y 1  y 2  y 3 
(iii)Co-ordinates of centroid G  , 
 3 3 
(iv) If P is any internal point of triangle such that area of APB, APC and BPC are same
then P must be centroid.

(b) Incenter :
Incenter is the point of concurrence of internal bisectors of the angles of a triangle. Also it
is a centre of the circle touching all the sides of a triangle

 ax 1  bx 2  cx 3 ay1  by2  cy 3 
Co-ordinates of incenter I  , 
 abc abc 
where a, b, c are the sides of triangle ABC, opposite to A, B, C respectively.
Note:
(i) Angle bisector divides the opposite sides in the ratio of their corresponding sides. e.g.
BD A B c
 
DC A C b
(ii) Incenter divides the angle bisectors in the ratio  b  c  : a,  c  a  : b,  a  b  : c
(c) Circumcenter :
It is the point of concurrence of perpendicular bisectors of the sides of a triangle. If O is
the circumcenter of any triangle ABC, then OA 2  OB2  OC 2 . Also it is a centre of a circle
touching all the vertices of a triangle.

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(i) If a triangle is right angled, then its circumcenter is the mid point of hypotenuse.
(ii) Find perpendicular bisector of any two sides and solve them to find circumcentre.
(d) Orthocenter :
It is the point of concurrence of perpendiculars drawn from vertices to opposite sides of
a triangle and it can be obtained by solving the equation of any two altitudes.
A (x1 , y1)

D F
O

(x2 , y 2) (x3 , y 3)
B C
E
Note :
If a triangle is right angled triangle, then orthocenter is the point where right angle is
formed.
Remarks :
(i) If the triangle is equilateral, then centroid, incenter, orthocenter, circumcenter coincide.
(ii) Orthocenter, centroid and circumcenter are always collinear and centroid divides the
line joining orthocenter and circumcenter in the ratio 2 : 1 for non equilateral triangles.
(iii) In an isosceles triangle centroid, orthocenter, incenter & circumcenter lie on the same
line.
(e) Ex-centers :
Point of concurrence of two external angle bisectors and one internal angle bisector of a
triangle is called Ex-center.
The center of a circle which touches side BC and the extended portions of sides AB and AC
is called the ex-center of ABC with respect to the vertex A. It is denoted by I1 and its
coordinates are
  ax 1  bx 2  cx 3 ay 1  by 2  cy 3 
I1   , 
 a  b  c a  b  c 

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Similarly ex-centers of ABC with respect to vertices B and C are denoted by I2 and I3
respectively , and
 ax - bx 2 + cx 3 ay 1 - by 2 + cy 3   ax 1 + bx 2 - cx 3 ay 1 + by 2 - cy 3 
I2   1 ,  , I3   , 
 a -b + c a - b + c   a+b - c a+b-c 

5. Area of triangle :
Let A(x1,y1), B(x2,y2) and C(x3,y3) are vertices of a triangle, then
x1 y1 1
1 1
Area of ABC = x2 y2 1 = |[x1(y2 – y3) + x2(y3 – y1) + x3(y1 – y2)]|
2 2
x3 y3 1
To remember the above formula, take the help of the following method:
1 x1 x2 x3 x1 1
= = | [(x1y2– x2y1) + (x2y3–x3y2)+(x3y1–x1y3)] |
2 y1 y2 y3 y1 2
Remarks :
(i) If the area of triangle joining three points is zero, then the points are collinear.
(ii) Area of Equilateral triangle : If altitude of any equilateral triangle is
P2  a2 3 
P, then its area = . If 'a' be the side of equilateral triangle, then its areaa =  
3  4 
(iii) Area of quadrilateral whose consecutive vertices are :

1 x1 - x3 y1 - y3
(x1, y1), (x2, y2), (x3, y3) & (x4, y4) is
2 x2 - x4 y2 - y4

6. Conditions of collinearity For three points :

Three points (x1, y1), (x2, y2), and (x3, y3) are collinear if any one of the given point lies on the
line passing through the remaining two points Thus the required condition is-

x1 y1 1
y3 - y1 x 3 - x1 x1 - x2 y1 - y2
= or = or x 2 y2 1
y2 - y1 x2 - x1 x1 - x3 y1 - y3 =0
x3 y3 1

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7. Equation of straight Line :

A relation between x and y which is satisfied by co-ordinates of every point lying on a line
is called equation of the straight line. Here, every linear equation in variable x and y always
represents a straight line i.e. ax + by + c = 0 ; a & b  0 simultaneously..
(a) Equation of a line parallel to x-axis at a distance 'a' from x-axis is y = a or y = – a
(b) Equation of x-axis is y = 0
(c) Equation of a line parallel to y-axis at a distance 'b' from y -axis is x = b or x = – b
(d) Equation of y-axis is x = 0

8. Slope of line :

If a given line makes an angle (0°   < 180°,  90°) with the positive direction of x-axis,
then slope of this line will be tan and is usually denoted by the letter m i.e. m = tan.
Obviously the slope of the x-axis and line parallel to it is zero and y-axis and line parallel to
it does not exist.
y2  y1
If A(x1,y1) and B(x2, y2) & x1  x2 then slope of line AB = x  x
2 1

9. Standard forms of a straight line :

(a) Slope Intercept form : Let m be the slope of a line and c its intercept on y-axis. Then the
equation of this straight line is written as : y = mx + c

(b) Point Slope form : If m be the slope of a line and it passes through a point (x1,y1), then its
equation is written as : y – y1 = m(x – x1)

(c) Two point form : Equation of a line passing through two points (x1,y1) and (x2,y2) is
written as :
x y 1
y2 – y1 x y1 1 0
y – y1  (x – x 1 ) or 1
x2 – x1 x2 y2 1

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(d) Intercept form : If a and b are the intercepts made by a line on the axes of x and y
x y
respectively, then its equation is written as : + =1
a b

(e) Normal form : If p is the length of perpendicular on a line from the origin, and  the
angle which this perpendicular makes with positive direction of x-axis, then the equation
of this line is written as : xcos + ysin = p (p is always positive) where 0   < 2.

(f) Parametric form : The equation of a straight line which

passes through a point A(h, k) and makes an angle  with the positive direction of the x-

xh yk
axis is  =r
co s  sin 

Any point P on the line will be of the form (h + r cos, k + r sin), where |r| gives the
distance of the point P from the fixed point (h, k).
y P L
r (x, y)
A
(h, k)
L'
x
O

(g) General form : We know that a first degree equation in x and y,

ax +by + c = 0 always represents a straight line. This form is known as general form of
straight line.

-a coeff. of x
(i) Slope of this line = b = - coeff. of y

c c
(ii)Intercept by this line on x-axis = – and intercept by this line on y-axis = –
a b

(iii) To change the general form of a line to normal form, first take c to right hand side and
make it positive, then divide the whole equation by a2  b 2 .

10. Angle between two lines :

(a) If  be the angle between two lines : y =m 1x + c 1 and y = m 2 x +c 2, then
 m1 - m2 
ta n θ = ±  
 1 + m 1m 2 

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(b) If equation of lines are a1x+b1y+c1=0 and a2x+b2y+c2=0, then these line are -
a1 b 1 c
(i) Parallel    1
a2 b 2 c2
(ii) Perpendicular  a1a2+b1b2=0
a1 b 1 c 1
(iii) Coincident  = =
a2 b 2 c 2

a b
(iii) Intersecting 
1
 1
a 2 b 2

11. Length of perpendicular from a point on a line :

ax 1 + by 1 + c
Length of perpendicular from a point (x1,y1) on the line ax + by + c = 0 is
a2 + b 2

In particular, the length of the perpendicular from the origin on the line ax + by + c = 0
|c|
is P =
a2 + b 2

12. Distance between two parallel lines :

(a) The distance between two parallel lines ax + by + c 1= 0 and ax + by + c2= 0 is
c1  c2

a2  b 2
(Note : The coefficients of x & y in both equations should be same)
p1 p2
(b) The area of the parallelogram = , where p1 & p2 are distances between two pairss
s in 
of opposite sides &  is the angle between any two adjacent sides . Note that area of the
parallelogram bounded by the lines y = m1x + c1 , y = m1x + c2 and y = m2x + d1 , y = m2x
(c 1  c 2 ) (d 1  d 2 )
+ d2 is given by m1 m2

13. Equation of lines parallel and perpendicular to a given line:

(a) Equation of line parallel to line ax + by + c = 0
ax + by +  = 0
(b) Equation of line perpendicular to line ax + by + c = 0
bx – ay + k = 0
Here , k, are parameters and their values are obtained with the help of additional
information given in the problem.

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14. Straight line making a given angle with a line :

Equations of lines passing through a point (x1,y1) and making an angle , with the line y=
mx+c is written as :
m  ta n 
y  y1  (x  x 1 )
1  m ta n 

15. Position of two points with respect to a given line :

Let the given line be ax + by + c = 0 and P(x1, y1), Q(x2, y2) be two points. If the quantities ax1
+ by1 + c and ax2 + by2 + c have the same signs, then both the points P and Q lie on the same
side of the line ax + by + c = 0. If the quantities ax1 + by1 + c and ax2 + by2 + c have opposite
signs, then they lie on the opposite sides of the line.

16. Concurrency of lines :

(a) Three lines a1x + b1y + c1 = 0; a2x + b2y + c2 = 0 and a3x + b3y + c3 = 0 are concurrent, if 
a1 b1 c1
a2 b2 c2  0
=
a3 b3 c3
Note :
If lines are concurrent then  = 0 but if  = 0 then lines may or may not be concurrent
{lines may be parallel}

17. Reflection of a point :

Let P(x, y) be any point, then its image
with respect to
(a) x-axis is Q(x, –y)
(b) y-axis is R(–x, y)
(c) origin is S(–x,–y)
(d) line y = x is T(y, x)

18. Transformation of axes:

(a) Shifting of origin without rotation of axes :
If coordinates of any point P (x, y) with respect to new origin ()will
be (x'y') then x = x' + , y = y' + 
or x' = x – , y' = y – 
Thus if origin is shifted to point () without rotation of axes, then new equation of curve

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can be obtained by substituting x +  in place of x and y + in place of y.

Y
Y'
P(x,y)
(x',y')
y'
y
X'
O' x'
X
O x

(b) Rotation of axes without shifting the origin :

Let O be the origin. Let P (x, y) with respect to axes OX and OY and let P (x', y') with
respect to axes OX' and OY' where X'OX = YOY' = ,

then x = x' cos  – y' sin 

y = x' sin  + y' cos 
and x' = x cos  + y sin 
y' = –x sin  + y cos 
The above relation between (x, y) and (x', y') can be easily obtained with the help of following
table
Old
New x y

x'  cos  sin 

y'  –sin  cos 

19. Equation of Bisectors of angles between two lines :

If lines a1x+b1y+c1=0 and a2x + b2y+c2=0 are intersecting, then equation of angle bisectors
between these lines are :
a1 x  b 1 y  c 1 a2 x  b 2 y  c 2
 ..........(1)
a b
2
1
2
1 a22  b 22

(a) Equation of angle bisector containing origin :

If the equation of the lines are written with constant terms c1 and c2 positive, then the
equation of the angle bisectors containing the origin is obtained by taking positive sign in
(1)

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(b) Equation of bisector of acute/obtuse angles :

See whether the constant terms c1 and c2 in the two equation are +ve or not. If not then
multiply both sides of given equation by-1 to make the constant terms positive.
Determine the sign of a1a2 + b1b2

If sign of a1a2+b1b2 For obtuse angle bisector For acute angle bisector
+ use + sign in eq. (1) use – sign in eq. (1)
– use – sign in eq. (1) use + sign in eq. (1)
i.e. if a1a2 + b1b2 > 0, then the bisector corresponding to + sign gives obtuse angle bisector
a1 x  b1 y  c1 a2 x  b 2 y  c 2

a b
2
1
2
1 a22  b 22

20. Family of lines :

If equation of two lines be P  a1x + b1y + c1= 0 and Q a2x + b2y + c2=0, then the equation
of the lines passing through the point of intersection of these lines is : P + Q = 0 or a1x +
b1y + c1 +  (a2x + b2y + c2) = 0. The value of  is obtained with the help of the additional
informations given in the problem.

21. General Equation and Homogeneous Equation of Second Degree :

(a) The general equation of second degree
ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 represents a pair of straight lines,
a h g
if =abc+2fgh – af – bg – ch = 0 or
2 2 2 h b f  0 , h2  ab, g2  ca and f2  bc
g f c

2 h2  ab
(b) If  be the angle between the lines, then tan   
ab
Obviously these lines are
(i) Parallel, if  = 0, h2 = ab or if h2 = ab and bg2 = af2
(ii) Perpendicular, if a + b =0 i.e. coeff. of x2 + coeff. of y2 = 0.
(c) Homogeneous equation of 2nd degree ax2 + 2hxy + by2 = 0 always represent a pair of
straight lines whose equations are
 h  h2  ab 
y=  b
 x  y=mx&y=mx
 1 2
 
2h a
and m1 + m2 = – : m1m2 =
b b
These straight lines pass through the origin and to find the angle between these lines
same formula as given for general equation is used.
The condition that these lines are:
(i) At right angle to each other is a + b = 0. i.e. co-efficient of x2 + co-efficient of y2 = 0.
(ii) Coincident if h2 = ab.

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(iii) Equally inclined to the axis of x if h = 0. i.e. coeff. of xy = 0.

(d) The combined equation of angle bisectors between the lines represented by
x 2 - y 2 xy
homogeneous equation of 2nd degree is given by  , a  b, h  0.
a-b h
(e) Pair of straight lines perpendicular to the lines ax2 + 2hxy + by2 = 0

and through origin are given by bx2–2hxy + ay2 = 0.

(f) If lines ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy+c=0 are parallel then distance between them is =
g 2  ac  (f 2 – bc) 
2 or 2  b(a  b) 
a(a  b)  

22. Equations of lines joining the points of intersection of a line and a

curve to the origin :
(a) Let the equation of curve be :
ax2 + 2hxy + by2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 ...(i)
and straight line be
lx + my + n = 0 ...(ii)
Now joint equation of line OP and OQ joining the origin and points of intersection P and Q
can be obtained by making the equation

(i) homogenous with the help of equation of the line. Thus required equation is given by-
 x  my 
2

ax +2hxy+by +2(gx+fy)  x  my  + c 
2 2
 0
 n   n 

23. Standard Results:

2c 2
(a) Area of rhombus formed by lines a |x|– b | y | + c = 0 or ax  by + c = 0 is
| ab |
c2
(b) Area of triangle formed by line ax + by + c = 0 and axes is .
2 | ab |
(c) Co-ordinate of foot of perpendicular (h,k) from (x1,y1) to the line ax + by + c = 0 is
h  x1 k  y1  (ax 1  by1  c)
given by  
a b a 2  b2
(d) Image of point (x1, y1) w.r.t the line ax + by + c = 0 is given by
h - x1 k - y1 -2(ax 1 + by 1 + c)
= =
a b a 2 + b2

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 CIRCLES

CIRCLES

1. Definition :
A circle is the locus of a point which moves in a plane in such a way that its distance from
a fixed point remains constant. The fixed point is called the centre of the circle and the
constant distance is called the radius of the circle.

2. Standard Equations of the Circle :

(a) Central Form :
If (h, k) is the centre and r is the radius of the circle then its equation is (x–h)2 + (y – k)2 =
r2
(b) General equation of circle: x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0. where g,f,c are constants then
centre is (–g,–f)
 coefficient of x coefficient of y 
i.e.   ,  and radius r  g  f  c
2 2

 2 2 
Note :
The general quadratic equation in x and y.
ax2 + by2 + 2hxy + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 represents a circle if :
(i) coefficient of x2 = coefficient of y2 or a = b  0
(ii) coefficient of xy = 0 or h = 0
(iii) (g2 + f2 – c)  0 (for a real circle)
(c) Intercepts cut by the circle on axes :
The intercepts cut by the circle x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c =0 on :
(i) x-axis = 2 g 2 – c (ii) y-axis  2 f 2 – c
Note :
Intercept cut by a line on the circle x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy+c = 0 or length of chord of the circle
 2 a 2 - P 2 where 'a' is the radius and 'P' is the length of perpendicular from the centre to
o
the chord.
(d) Diameter form of circle :
If A(x1,y1) and B(x2,y2) are the end points of the diameter of the circle then the equation of
the circle is given by (x–x1) (x–x2)+(y–y1)(y–y2) = 0

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 CIRCLES

P(x,y)

O.
(x1 ,y1) A B(x2,y2)
C

(e) The parametric forms of the circle :

(i) The parametric equation of the circle x2+y2 = r2 are x = r cos, y = r sin ;   [0, 2)
(ii) The parametric equation of the circle (x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r2 are
x = h + r cos, y = k + r sin  where  is parameter.
(iii) The parametric equation of the circle x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 are x = – g + g 2 + f 2 – c cos,

y = –f + g 2 + f 2 – c sin  where  is parameter..

Note that equation of a straight line joining two point  &  on the circle x2 + y2 = a2 is
     
x cos + y sin = a cos
os
2 2 2

3. Position of a point w.r.t circle: :

(a) Let the circle be x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0

and the point be (x1,y1) then-

Point (x1,y1) lies out side the circle or on the circle or inside the circle according as

x12 + y12 + 2gx1 +2fy1 + c >, =, < 0 or S1 >, =, < 0

(b) The greatest & the least distance of a point A from a circle with centre C & radius r is
AC + r & AC – r respectively.
(c) If a line drawn from a point p(x1,y1) intersects the circle S = 0 in two distinct points A and
B then PA.PB = S1 and PA.PB = CP2–r2 is called the power of the point P w.r.t. circle S = 0
B

A r S  x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0
C S1 = x12 + y12 + 2gx1 + 2fy1 + c
P

4. Tangent Line of Circle :

When a straight line meet a circle on two coincident points then it is called the tangent of
the circle.

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(a) Condition of Tangency :

The line L = 0 touches the circle S = 0 if P the length of the perpendicular from the centre
to that line and radius of the circle r are equal i.e. P = r.

(b) Equation of the tangent (T = 0) :

(i) Tangent at the point (x1,y1) on the circle x2+ y2 = a2 is xx1 + yy1 = a2.
(ii) (1) The tangent at the point (acos t, asin t) on the circle x2 + y2 = a2 is xcos t + ysin t = a
(2) The point of intersection of the tangents at the points

 acos 
2 asin 
2

P () and Q () is   , .
 cos 2 cos 
2 

(iii) The equation of tangent at the point (x1,y1) on the circle

x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is T = 0
xx1 + yy1 + g(x + x1) + f(y + y1) + c = 0
(iv) If line y = mx + c is a straight line touching the circle
x2 + y2 = a2, then c = ± a 1  m2 and contact points are
e

 am a   a2m a2 
 ,  or   ,   and equation of tangent is
 1 + m2 1 + m2   c c 

y = mx ± a 1 + m 2
(v) The equation of tangent with slope m of the circle
(x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = a2 is
(y – k) = m(x – h) ± a 1 + m 2
Note :
To get the equation of tangent at the point (x1 y1) on any curve we replace x2 with xx1, y2
x  x1 y  y1 xy  yx 1
with yy1, x with , y with , xy with 1 and c in place of c.
2 2 2
(c) Length of tangent ( S 1 ) :
The length of tangent drawn from point
(x1,y1) out side the circle

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S  x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is,

PT= S1 = x 12  y 12  2gx 1  2fy 1  c
T
P(x1 ,y1 )

(d) Equation of Pair of tangents (SS1 = T2) :

Let the equation of circle S  x2 + y2 = a2 and P(x1,y1) is any point outside the circle. From the
point we can draw two real and distinct tangent PQ & PR and combine equation of pair of
tangents is -
(x2 + y2 – a2) (x12 + y12 – a2) = (xx1 + yy1 – a2)2 or SS1 = T2

5. Normal of circle :
Normal at a point of the circle is the straight line which is perpendicular to the tangent at
the point of contact and passes through the centre of circle.
(a) Equation of normal NT at point T(x1,y1) of circle x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy
+ c = 0 is

y +f
y– y1 =  1  (x - x 1 )
 x1 + g 

 y y1 
(b) The equation of normal on any point (x1,y1) of circle x2 + y2 = a2 is   
 x x1 

6. Chord of Contact:

If two tangents PT1 & PT2 are drawn from the point P (x1, y1) to the circle
S  x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 ,
then the equation of the chord of contact T1T2 is :
xx1 + yy1 + g (x + x1) + f (y + y1) + c = 0 (i.e. T = 0).

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7. Equation Of The Chord With A Given Middle Point (T = S1) :

The equation of the chord of the circle S  x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 in terms of its mid
x1  g
point M (x1 , y1) is y - y1 = - (x - x1).
y1  f
This on simplification can be put in the form xx1 + yy1 + g (x + x1) + f (y + y1) + c = x12 +
y12 + 2gx1 + 2fy1 + c which is designated by T = S1.

8. Director Circle :
The locus of point of intersection of two perpendicular tangents to a circle is called director
circle. Let the circle x2 + y2 = a2. Then the equation of the director circle is x2 + y2 = 2a2.
 director circle is a concentric circle whose radius is 2 times the radius of the circle.
Note :
The director circle of
x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is
x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + 2c– g2 – f2 = 0

9. Pole and Polar :

Let any straight line through the given point A(x1,y1) intersect the given circle S =0 in two
points P and Q and if the tangent of the circle at P and Q meet at the point R then locus of
point R is called polar of the point A and point A is called the pole, with respect to the
given circle.
The equation of the polar is the T=0, so the polar of point (x1,y1) w.r.t circle x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy
+ c = 0 is xx1+ yy1+ g(x + x1) + f(y + y1)+c = 0
Pole of a given line with respect to a circle
To find the pole of a line we assume the coordinates of the pole then from these coordinates
we find the polar. This polar and given line represent the same line. Then by comparing
the coefficients of similar terms we can get the coordinates of the pole. The pole of lx +
   a2 ma2 
my + n =0 w.r.t. circle x + y = a will be  n , n 
2 2 2
 

10. Family Of Circles :

(a) The equation of the family of circles passing through the points of intersection
of two circles S1 = 0 & S2 = 0 is : S1 + K S2 = 0 (K  –1).
(b) The equation of the family of circles passing through the point of Intersection
of a circle S = 0 & a line L = 0 is given by S+ KL = 0.
(c) The equation of a family of circles passing through two given points (x1 , y1) & (x2 , y2)
can be written in the form :

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 CIRCLES

x y 1
(x - x1) (x - x2) + (y - y1) (y - y2) + K x 1 y 1 1 = 0 where K is a parameter..
x2 y2 1
(d) The equation of a family of circles touching a fixed line y - y1 = m (x - x1) at the fixed
point (x1 , y1) is (x - x1)2 + (y - y1)2 + K [y - y1 - m (x - x1)] = 0, where K is a parameter.
(e) Family of circles circumscribing a triangle whose sides are given by L1 = 0 ; L2 = 0 &
L3 = 0 is given by ; L1L2 +  L2L3 +  L3L1 = 0 provided coefficient of xy = 0 & coefficient of x2
= coefficient of y2.
(f) Equation of circle circumscribing a quadrilateral whose sides in order are represented
by the lines L1 = 0, L2 = 0, L3 = 0 & L4 = 0 is L1L3 +  L2L4 = 0 provided coefficient of x2 =
coefficient of y2 and coefficient of xy = 0.

11. Direct and Transverse common tangents :

Let two circles having centre C1, C2, radii r1, r2 and C1C2 is the distance between their centres
then :
(a) Circles touch each other:
(i) Externally if C1C2 = r1 + r2 point P divides C1C2 in the ratio r1 : r2 (internally).

In this case there are three common tangents.

(ii) Internally if C1C2 = |r1–r2| point P divides C1C2 in the ratio r1 : r2 externally and in this case
there will be only one common tangent.

(b) The circles will intersect : when |r1 – r2| < C1C2 < r1 + r2 in this case there are two
common tangents.

(c) The circles will not intersect :

(i) One circle will lie inside the other circle if C1C2 <
|r1–r2| In this case there will be no common tangent.

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(ii) Circles neither touch nor intersect then C1C2> r1+r2 and in this
case there will be four common tangents.

Lines PQ and RS are called transverse or indirect or internal common tangents and these
lines intersect line C1C2 at T1and T1 divides the line C1C2 in the ratio r1 : r2 internally and
lines AB & CD are called direct or external common tangents. These lines intersect C1C2
produced at T2. Thus T2 divides C1C2 externally in the ratio r1 : r2.
Note : Length of direct common tangent = (C 1 C 2 )2  (r1  r2 )2
Length of transverse common tangent = (C 1 C 2 )2  (r1  r2 )2

12. The angle of intersection of two circles :

Definition : The angle between the tangents of two circles at the point of intersection of
the two circles is called angle of intersection of two circles.

2g1g2  2f1f2  c1  c2  r12  r22  d2 

then cos   or cos    
2 g12  f12  c1 g22  f22  c2  2r1r2 
Here r1 and r2 are the radii of the circles and d is the distance between their centres.
If the angle of intersection of the two circles is a right angle then such circles are called
"Orthogonal circles" and condition for the circles to be orthogonal is -
2g1g2 + 2f1f2 = c1+ c2 or r12 + r22 = d2

13. Radical axis of the two circles (S1 – S2= 0) :

Definition : The locus of a point, which moves in such a way that the length of tangents
drawn from it to the circles are equal is called the radical axis. If two circles are -

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 CIRCLES

S1  x2 + y2 + 2g1x + 2f1 y + c1 =0
S2  x2 + y2 + 2g2x + 2f2y + c2 = 0
Then the equation of radical axix is given by S1– S2= 0
Note :
(i) If two circles touches each other then common tangent radical axis

S1-S2=0 S1-S2=0

(ii) If two circles intersect each other then common chord is radical axis

S1-S2=0

(iii) If two circles cuts third circle orthogonally then radical axis of first two is locus of
centre of third circle.
(iv) The radical axis of the two circles is perpendicular to the line joining the centres of two
circles but not always pass through mid point of it.

14. Radical centre :

The point of concurrence of radical axes of three circles whose centres are non collinear,
taken in pairs is called their radical centre.
Note :

(i) The circle with centre as radical centre and radius equal to the length of tangent from
radical cent any of the circle, will cut the three circles orthogonally.
C
I
C1 T1
=

C2
=

T2 =
III
T3 II B
A
C3

(ii) If three circles are drawn on three sides of a triangle taking them as diameter then its
orthocenter will be its radical centre.

(iii) The radical centre of three circles is the point from which length of tangents on three
circles are equal.

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