Module 2 Circles and Lines Notes

Circles and Lines
Summary of Concepts
Distance Formula: The distance between two points A(x1 , y1 ) and B(x2 , y2 ) is given by
p
|AB| = (x2 − x1 )2 + (y2 − y1 )2 .
Midpoint Formula: The midpoint of the line segment with endpoints (x1 , y1 ) and (x2 , y2 )
is (x, y), where
x1 + x2 y1 + y2
x= , y= .
2 2
√
Figure 1: Line segment with endpoints A(−2, −3) and B(2, 5) : |AB| = 80, (x, y) = (0, 1)
Equation of a Circle in Standard Form: The equation of a circle of radius r with center
at (h, k) is
(x − h)2 + (y − k)2 = r2
Note: In particular, a circle of radius r with center at the origin (0, 0) has equation
x2 + y 2 = r 2 .
1
Figure 2: x2 + y 2 = 1
Figure 3: (x − 2)2 + (y + 3)2 = 4
Equation of a Circle in General Form: The general form of the equation of a circle is
Ax2 + Ay 2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0
where A, D, E and F are constants, and A 6= 0.

Slope of a line: The slope of a line passing through the two points (x1 , y1 ) and (x2 , y2 ) and
is not parallel to the y−axis is given by
y2 − y1
m=
x2 − x 1
Notes on Lines:
• The slope of a line parallel to the y−axis (that is, a vertical line) is not defined.
• A line with a positive slope rises from left to right while a line with a negative slope falls
from left to right.
• A horizontal line has zero slope.
2
Equation of a Line: By an equation of a line we mean an equation that is satisfied by those,
and only those, points on the line.
Some Forms of an Equation of a Line:
1. Point-Slope Form
y − y0 = m(x − x0 )
where m is the slope and (x0 , y0 ) is a point on the line.
2. Slope-Intercept Form
y = mx + b
where m is the slope and b is the y−intercept.
3. General Form
Ax + By + C = 0
where A, B and C are constants, and A and B are not both zero.
Notes on Equations of Lines:
• The y−coordinate of the point where the line intersects the y−axis is the y−intercept of
the line.
• The x−coordinate of the point where the line intersects the x−axis is the x−intercept of
the line.
• The equation of a vertical line is x = a, where a is the x−intercept of the vertical line.
• The equation of a horizontal line is y = b, where b is the y−intercept of the horizontal line.
Parallel Lines: Two distinct non-vertical lines with slopes m1 and m2 are parallel if and
only if m1 = m2 .
Perpendicular Lines: Two distinct non-vertical lines with slopes m1 and m2 are perpen-
dicular if and only if m1 m2 = −1. Equivalently, m2 = − m11 .
Tangent Line to a Circle: A tangent line to a circle is a line that intersects the circle at
exactly one point, called the point of tangency. It is perpendicular to the radius drawn to the
point of tangency.
3
Worked Examples
1. Determine the center and the radius of the circle whose equation is 2x2 + 2y 2 + 8x + 7 = 0.
Solution: Express the equation of the circle in standard form. We divide both sides of
the equation by 2, and complete the square in x.
7
x2 + y 2 + 4x + 2
= 0.
=⇒ (x2 + 4x + 4) + y 2 = − 72 + 4
=⇒ (x + 2)2 + y 2 = 21 .
q √
Thus, the center of the circle is (−2, 0) and the radius is 1
2
or 2
2
. See the following figure.
2. Find an equation of the circle having a diameter whose endpoints are (−3, 2) and (4, − 43 ).
Express the equation in general form with integral coefficients.
Solution: The midpoint of the diameter is the center of the circle.
4
−3 + 4 2 −

3 1 1
(h, k) = , = , .
2 2 2 3
The radius of the circle is the distance between the center of the circle and any one of the
endpoints of the diameter.
s 2 2 s 2 2 r r
1 4 1 7 5 49 25 541
r= 4− + − − = + − = + = .
2 3 3 2 3 4 9 36
Thus, the equation of the circle is

2 2
1 1 541
x− + y− = .
2 3 36
4
3. Find the equation of the line passing through the point − 13 , 2 and perpendicular to the

line containing the points (0, −2) and (7, −5).
Solution: Let l1 be the line whose equation we are looking for, and let l2 be the line
containing the points (0, −2) and (7, −5). Since l1 and l2 are perpendicular, then their
slopes are negative reciprocals of each other. Solve for the slope of l2 .
7−0 7 7
m2 = = =−
−5 − (−2) −3 3
Then, the slope of l1 is m1 = 37 . Since l1 passes through the point (− 31 , 2), its equation is

3 1
y−2= x+ .
7 3
4. Find the equation of the line tangent to the circle x2 + y 2 − 8x − 10y − 128 = 0 at the
point (−8, 10).
Solution: First, we find the center of the circle by expressing the equation of the circle in
standard form. Complete the squares:
(x2 − 8x + 16) + (y 2 − 10y + 25) = 128 + 16 + 25
=⇒ (x − 4)2 + (y − 5)2 = 169
The center is (4, 5). Next, we solve for the slope of the radius through the point of tangency
(−8, 10).
10 − 5 5 5
mr = = =−
−8 − 4 −12 12
Since the tangent line is perpendicular to the radius through the point of tangency, the
slope of the tangent line is mT = 12
5
. Thus, the equation of the tangent line is
12
y − 10 = (x + 8).
5
See the figure below.
5
Figure 4: The line y − 10 = 12
5
(x + 8) is tangent to the circle (x − 4)2 + (y − 5)2 = 169

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Circles and Lines

Figure 3: (x − 2)2 + (y + 3)2 = 4

where A, D, E and F are constants, and A 6= 0.

• A horizontal line has zero slope.

where m is the slope and (x0 , y0 ) is a point on the line.

where m is the slope and b is the y−intercept.

Notes on Equations of Lines:

Solution: The midpoint of the diameter is the center of the circle.

Thus, the equation of the circle is

line containing the points (0, −2) and (7, −5).

(x2 − 8x + 16) + (y 2 − 10y + 25) = 128 + 16 + 25

=⇒ (x − 4)2 + (y − 5)2 = 169

See the figure below.

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