Syllabus JEE MAINS CIRCLES

Standard form of equation of a circle, general form of the equation of a circle, its radius and centre, equation of a circle when the end points of a diameter are given, points of intersection of a line and a circle with the centre at the origin and condition for a line to be tangent to a circle, equation of the tangent.

Quick Revision
1. Definition A circle is defined as the locus of a point which moves in a plane such that its distance from a fixed point in that plane always remains the same i.e constant. The fixed point is called the centre of the circle and the fixed distance is called the radius of the circle.
(Moving point)

P Q O
Fixed point

Plane

2. 2.1

Standard forms of various types of equation of circle Central form of equation of circle The equation of a circle having centre (h, k) and radius r is ( x h)2 ( y k )2
P(x,y)

r2

r (h,k) C

2.2

Equation of circle with center as origin and given radius This is the simplest equation of the circle is x2+y2 = r2 whose centre is (0, 0) and radius r.

2.3

Point circle A circle whose radius id equal to zero is known as defined as point circle so its equation can be obtained by substituting value of radius equal to zero in any kind of circle equation Example : If r = 0 then circle is called point circle and its equation is ( xh)2 + ( yk)2 = 0
90

P(x,y)

2.4

Diameter form of the circle The equation of the circle drawn on the straight line joining two given points ( x 1, y 1 ) and ( x 2 , y 2 ) as diameter is. (x x1 )(x x2 ) (y y1 )(y y2 ) 0

r (x1,y1)A C (h,k) B(x2,y2)

2.5

General equation of the circle The general equation of a circle is x 2 where g, f, c are constant. Centre of the circle is (g, f). i.e., (
1 coefficient of x, 2 1 coefficient of y) 2

y2

2gx 2fy c

0,

Radius of the circle is

g2

f2 c .

The general equation of second degree ax 2 by 2 2hxy 2gx 2fy c 0 represents a circle if a b 0 and h 0 . The above equation represents if a b 0 and h 0 . a real circle if a point circle if g 2 + f2 > c g 2 + f2 = c

an imaginary circle if g2 + f2 < c

In the above equation If c = 0 If f = 0 If g = 0 the circles passes through the origin the centre is on x-axis the centre is on y-axis

2.6

Parametric equation of the circle The parametric equations of a circle x2 + y2 = r2 are x = rcos , y = rsin . Hence parametric coordinates of any point lying on the circle x 2 + y2 = r2 are (rcos , rsin ) The parametric equations of the circle (x h)2 + (y k)2 = r2 are x = h + r cos , y = k + rsin . Hence parametric coordinates of any point lying on the circle are (h + rcos , k + rsin ) Parametric equations of the circle x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is x=g+
g2 f2 c

cos ,

y=f+

g2

f2

sin

2.7

Equation of circumcircles Circumcircle of a triangle : If we are given sides of a triangle, then first we should find vertices then we can find the equation of the circle using general form. Alternate : If equation of the sides are L1 is (L1.L 2 )
(L 2 .L 3 ) (L 3 .L1 ) 0 , where 0, L 2 0 and L 3

0 , then equation of circle

and

are the constant which can be found

out by the conditions, coefficient of x 2

coefficient of y 2 and coefficient of xy = 0

If the triangle is right angled then its hypotenuse is the diameter of the circle. So using diameter form we can find the equation. Circumcircle of a square or a rectangle : Diagonals of the square and rectangle will be diameters of the circumcircle. Hence finding the vertices of a diagonal, we can easily determine the required equation.

Alternate : If sides of a quadrilateral are L1 equation of circle is L1 L3 the condition of circle.

0, L2

0, L3

0 and L4

0 . Then

L 2 L4

0, where

is a constant which can be obtained by

2.8

Equation of circle in some special cases Which touches both axes : The equation of a circle with radius 'a' touching both coordinate axes is given by(x a)2 + (y a)2 = a2 Which touches x-axis : The equation of a circle with radius 'a' touching x-axis at a distance h from the origin is (x h)2 + (y a)2 = a2 The equation of a circle with radius 'a' touching x-axis at the origin is x2 + (y a)2 = a2 x2 + y2 2ay = 0 Which touches y-axis : The equation of a circle with radius 'a' touching y-axis at a distance k from the origin is (x a)2 + (y k)2 = a2 The equation of a circle with radius 'a' touching y-axis at the origin is (x a)2 + y2 = a2 x2 + y2 2ax = 0
O

a h

y a
k O

The equation of the circle through three non-collinear points A ( x1, y1 ),B ( x 2 , y 2 ), C ( x 3 , y 3 ) : Let the equation of circle be x 2 ..(i) If three points ( x1, y1 ), ( x 2 , y 2 ), ( x 3 , y 3 ) lie on the circle (i), their co-ordinates must satisfy
2 its equation. Hence solving equations x1 2 y1

y2

2gx 2fy c

2gx1

2fy1

..(ii)
x2 2
2 x3

y2 2
2 y3

2gx 2 2gx 3

2fy 2 2fy 3

c c

0 0

..(iii) ..(iv)

g, f, c are obtained from (ii), (iii) and (iv). Then to find the circle (i). Alternative method The equation of the circle through three non-collinear points A ( x 1, y 1 ),B ( x 2 , y 2 ), C ( x 3 , y 3 ) is
x2 2 x1 x2 2
2 x3

y2 2 y1 y2 2
2 y3

x x1 x2 x3

y 1 y1 1 y2 1 y3 1

3.

Intercept on the axes The lengths of intercepts made by the circle x 2 are 2 g 2
c and 2 f 2
c respectively.
c

y2

2gx 2fy c

0 with X and Y axes

Intercept on x-axis Intercept on y-axis

2 g2

2 f2 c

4.

Position of a point w.r.t to circle A point ( x 1, y 1 ) lies outside, on or inside a circle S as

S1
2 x1 2 y1

x2

y2

2gx 2fy c

0 according

2gx 1

2fy 1

c is positive, zero or negative i.e.

if,

S1 S1
S1

0 0
0

(x1, y1) Point is outside the circle. (x1, y1) Point is on the circle. (x1, y1) Point is inside the circle.

5. 5.1

Intersection of a line and a circle Position of a line

Let L = 0 be a line and S = 0 be a circle. If 'a' be the radius of the circle and 'p' be the length of the perpendicular from its centre on the line, then if p>a p=a p<a p=0 5.2 line L is outside the circle line L touches the circle line L is a chord of the circle line L is a diameter of the circle

Condition of tangency Circle x 2

y2 a 2 will touch the line y

mx

c if c

a 1 m 2 if,

a 2 (1 m 2 ) c 2 c2

0 line will meet the circle at real and different points.

a 2 (1 m 2 ) line will touch the circle. 0 line will meet circle at two imaginary points.
am 1 m
2

a 2 (1 m 2 ) c 2

Point of contact of Line is given by

a 1 m2

The line ax
c2 r 2 (a 2 b 2 ).

by

0 is a tangent to the circle x 2

y2

r 2 if and only if

The condition that the line lx

(lg mf n) 2 (l 2 m 2 ) (g 2 f2

my
c ).

0 touches the circle x 2

y2

2gx 2fy c

0 is

5.3

Length of a intsercept cut by a intersecting line to a circle The length of the intercept cut off from the line y
2 a 2 (1 m 2 ) c 2 1 m2
mx c by the circle x 2

y2

a 2 is

6. 6.1

Tangent at a given points Equation of tangent in point form

For equation of tangent of any type of conic at (x 1 , y1 ) , substitute xx 1 for x 2 , yy1 for
y2, x 2 x1

for x,

y 2

y1

for y and

xy 1 2

x 1y

for xy and keep the constant as such .From

above assumption The equation of tangent at (x1, y1) to circle x 2 The equation of tangent at ( x 1, y 1 ) to circle x 2
xx 1 yy 1 g( x x1 ) f(y y1 ) c 0

y2 y2

a 2 is xx 1 2gx 2fy c

yy 1

a2

0 is

The equation of tangent at (a cos , a sin ) is x . a cos

x cos y sin a .(parametric form )

y . a sin

a 2 or

6.2

Length of the tangent Let

x2

PQ
y2

and
2fy

PR
c

be

two

tangents

drawn

from

P( x 1, y 1 )

to

the

circle

2gx

0. Then PQ =PR is called the length of tangent drawn from point

2 x1 2 y1

P and is given by PQ = PR 6.3 Point of contact of a tangent If circle be x 2

y2

2gx 1

2fy 1

S1

a 2 and tangent in terms of slope be y

am (1 m )
2

mx
a

a (1

m 2 ) ,Then its

point of (x,y) contacts are given by (x,y)=

(1 m 2 )

If the line y = mx + c is the tangent to the circle x2 y2

ma2 a2 , c c

a2 then point of contact is given by

If the line lx+my+n = 0 is the tangent to the circle x2+y2=a2 then point of contact is given by
la2 ma2 , n n

6.4

Equation of pair of tangents For

S

a
x2

given
y2

point

P( x 1, y 1 )

two

tangents

can

be

drawn
T 2.

to

the

circle

2gx 2fy c

0. Their combined equation is SS 1

Where S

0 is the equation of circle, T

0 is the equation of tangent at (x 1 , y1 ) and S1

is obtained by replacing x by x1 and y by y1 in S.

6.5

Area of quadrilateral made by pair of tangents For a given point P( x1, y1 ) two tangents can be drawn to the circle
S x2 y2 2gx 2fy c 0. then the area of quadrilateral formed by radius and pair of

tangents is given by Area of the quadrilateral is

r * s1

If OA and OB are the tangents from the origin to the circle x 2 y 2 2 gx 2 fy c 0 and C is the centre of the circle, then the area of the quadrilateral OACB is
c (g2 f2 c ).

S + S' = 0

7. 7.1

Family of Circles Circle passing through intersection of two circles

S=0

S'=0

If S = 0 and S' = 0 are two intersecting circles, the S + S' = 0 ( 1) represents family of circles passing through intersection points of S = 0 and S' = 0 ( being parameter)
S + L=0

7.2

Circle passing through intersection of circle and a line

L=0

If S = 0 and L = 0 represent a circle and a line, then S + L = 0 represent family of circles passing through intersection points of circle S= 0 and line L = 0 (being parameter)
S=0

8.

Angle of Intersection of a circle The angle of intersection between two circles S = 0 and S' = 0 is defined as the angle between their tangent at their point of intersection. If S x2 + y2 + 2g1x + 2f 1y + c1 = 0
A

S' x + y + 2g2x + 2f2y + c2 = 0

S=0 S'=0

are two circles with radii r1, r2 and d be the distance between their centres then the angle of intersection between them is given by

cos=

r12 r22 d2 2r1 r2

or

cos=

2 g1 g2 f1 f2
2 2 g1

c1 c 2 f22 c2

f12

2 c1 g2

8.1

Condition of Orthogonality If the angle of intersecton of the two circle is a right angle then such circle are called Orthogonal circle. In PC1C2 (C1C2)2 = (C1P)2 + (C2P)2 + f22 c2 d2 = r12 + r22 (g1g2)2 + (f1f2)2 = g12+f12c1+g22

2g1 g2 + 2f1f2 = c1 + c2 (Condition of orthogonality).

9.

Some Standard Result If the line lx + my + n = 0 is a tangent to the circle x 2 + y2 = a2, then a2 (l2 + m2) = n2. If the circle x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is a point circle then g2 + f2 = c. The length of the tangent drawn from any point on the circle x 2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c1 = 0 to x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is the circle

c c1

If the circles x2 + y2 + 2gx + c2 = 0 and x2 + y2 + 2fy + c2 = 0 touch each other, then .

1 g2 1 f2 1 c2

If the circle x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 touches x-axis and y-axis, then g2 = c and f 2 = c respectively.

 If two tangents drawn from the origin to the circle x 2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 are perpendicular to each other, then g2 + f2 = 2c. If the tangent to the circle x2 + y2 = r2 at the point (a, b) meets the coordinates axes at the points A and B and O is the origin, then the area of the
r4 triangle OAB is . 2ab
P r1 (-g1, -f1) C1 d r2 (-g2, -f2) C2

If is the angle subtended at P(x1, y1) by the circle S = x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0, then cot
S1 2 g
2

f2 c

If the line lx + my + n = 0 is a tangent to the circle (x h)2 + (y k)2 = a2, then (hl + km + n)2 = a2 (l2 + m2). The angle between the tangents from ( , ) to the circle x2 + y2 = a2 is 2 tan1
a
2 2

a2

If lines l1x + m1y + n1 = 0 and l2x + m2y + n2 = 0 cut the axes at concyclic points, then l1l2 = m1m2. The area of the triangle formed by the tangents from the points (h, k) to the circle x 2 + y2 = a2 and their chord of contact is
a h2 k 2 (h2 k 2 a2 )3 / 2