MATH 21 - Module 2a Exercises - Circles and Lines

1. Determine the distance between the two given points.

(a) (0, 0) and (−1, 2) (d) (h, 0) and (−4, 1)

(b) (3, 2) and ( 21 , 4) (e) (2, a) and (2a, −1)
(c) (− 95 , −3) and (0, − 43 ) (f) (k, −3k) and (−2k, 4k)

2. Determine the center and radius of the circle with the given equation.

(a) (x + 3)2 + (y − 23 )2 = 4
3
(f) x2 + y 2 + 8x + 12y + 47 = 0
(b) 2(x + 1)2 + 2(y − 4)2 = 8 (g) x2 + y 2 + 4y = 8x + 20
(c) (3x + 3)2 + (3y − 6)2 = 4 (h) 2x2 + 2y 2 + 6x = 2y + 3
(d) 4(x + 2)2 + 4y 2 + 4y = 5 (i) 16x2 + 16y 2 + 32y + 21 = 24x
(e) x2 + y 2 − 10x − 4y + 16 = 0 (j) 18x2 + 18y 2 + 108x + 143 = 24y

3. Find the equation (in general form with integral coefficients) of the circle that
satisfies the given conditions.
(a) center at (3, 2) and radius 4
1
(b) center at (−2, −4) and radius 2
(c) center at (− 32 , 2) and radius 2
3
(d) having a diameter whose endpoints are (2, 4) and (8, 0)
(e) having a diameter whose endpoints are (− 72 , 4) and (4, 2)
(f) center at (2, 3) and passing through the point (4, 4)
(g) center at (−3, −4) and passing through the point (−1, −2)
(h) center at (3, − 23 ) and passing through the point (6, − 14 )

4. Find the equation of the line that satisfies the given conditions. Write your
equation in general form; that is, ax + by + c = 0, where a, b, c are integers
and a ≥ 0.
(a) with slope 4 and y-intercept −8
(b) with slope − 12 and y-intercept 5
2
(c) with slope −4 and passing through (−1, 3)
(d) with slope 2 and passing through ( 32 , −2)
(e) with slope 0 and passing through (−1, 2)
 (f) with undefined slope and passing through ( 32 , −2)
(g) passing through (2, 4) and (− 21 , 1)
(h) passing through (−2, 35 ) and ( 32 , −3)
(i) passing through (− 54 , −2) and parallel to the line 2x − 4y + 1 = 0
(j) passing through (5, − 52 ) and parallel to the line 3x + 2y = 0
(k) passing through (−2, 1) and perpendicular to the line 2x − 3y = 12
(l) passing through ( 25 , −5) and perpendicular to the line x + 4y + 10 = 0
(m) passing through (− 43 , −2) and parallel to x = − 12
(n) passing through (4, −4) and perpendicular to the y-axis
(o) tangent to the circle x2 + y 2 = 8 at the point (−2, −2)
(p) tangent to the circle x2 + y 2 = 9 at the point (0, −3)
(q) tangent to the circle x2 + y 2 = 2x + 4y + 21 at the point (6, 1)
(r) tangent to the circle x2 + y 2 + 6x = 8y + 15 at the point (−1, −2)
√
5. For what values of k is the distance between (2, k) and (4, −2) at least 2 10?

6. Find the point on the x-axis that is equidistant to (7, 3) and (11, −1).

7. The circle x2 + y 2 + h2 = 2hx + 2y + 33 passes through the point (3, −2).

Find h and the radius of the circle.

8. Find the area of the triangle enclosed by the line 4x = 7y + 28 and the
coordinate axes.

9. Find the equation of the line that contains a diameter of the circle x2 + y 2 +
2x + 4 = 8y and is perpendicular to the line x + 3y + 2 = 0. Write your
equation in the form y = mx + b.

10. For what values of r is there a line that is tangent to the circle x2 + y 2 + 10 =
6x + 2y + r2 and passes through the point (−1, 4)?
? 11. Let A(1, 3) and B(4, −2). Find all points P on the y-axis such that AP ⊥ BP
(that is, ∠AP B = 90◦ ).
? 12. Let A(2, 4) and B(8, 3). Find the point P on the x-axis such that AP + P B
is minimum.
? May need prerequisite idea
 Answer Key - Selected Items
√ √ √
1. (b) 41/2 (d) h2 + 8h + 17 (f) 58 |k|
√ √
2. (a) (−3, 23 ), 2 3/3 (e) (5, 2), 13 (i) ( 43 , −1), 1
2
√ √
(c) (−1, 2), 23 (g) (4, −2), 2 10 (j) (−3, 23 ), 6/2

3. (a) x2 + y 2 − 6x − 4y − 3 = 0
(b) 4x2 + 4y 2 + 16x + 32y + 79 = 0
(d) x2 + y 2 − 10x − 4y + 16 = 0
(f) x2 + y 2 − 4x − 6y + 8 = 0
(h) 16x2 + 16y 2 − 96x + 48y + 11 = 0

4. (a) 4x − y − 8 = 0 (k) 3x + 2y + 4 = 0
(c) 4x + y + 1 = 0 (m) 4x + 3 = 0
(e) y−2=0
(g) 6x − 5y + 8 = 0 (o) x + y + 4 = 0
(i) 4x − 8y − 11 = 0 (q) 5x − y − 29 = 0

5. k ≤ −8 or k ≥ 4
√
7. h = −2 or h = 8, radius = 34

9. y = 3x + 7

11. (0, 2) and (0, −1)

12. ( 38
7 , 0)
 Circles and Lines

From the Practice Exercises

1. Find the center and radius of the circle 18x2 + 18y 2 + 108x + 143 = 24y.

18x2 + 18y 2 + 108x + 143 = 24y ⇒ 18(x2 + 6x + 9) + 18(y 2 − 34 y + 49 ) = −143 + 162 + 8 =

√ √
27 ⇒ 18(x+3)2 +18(y − 23 )2 = 27. Thus, the center is (−3, 32 ) and the radius is 27 = 3 3.

2. Find the equation of the circle of center (3, 2) and radius 4.

This is straightforward: (x − 3)2 + (y − 2)2 = 16.

3. Find the equation of the circle having a diameter whose endpoints are (2, 4) and (8, 0).

The midpoint ( 2+8

2
, 4+0
2
) = (5, 2) of the is the center of the circle while the radius is the
p √
length r = (8 − 5)2 + (0 − 2)2 = 13. Thus, the equation is (x − 5)2 + (y − 2)2 = 13.

4. Find the equation of the circle with center (−3, −4) and passing through the point (−1, −2).
p √
The radius is r = (−3 − (−1))2 + (−4 − (−2))2 = 8. The equation is

(x + 3)2 + (y + 4)2 = 8.

5. Find the equation of the line with slope 4 and y−intercept −8. Write it in the form
ax + by + c = 0, where a ≥ 0.

The y−intercept is the point (0, −8) on the line. Thus, y + 8 = 4(x − 0) ⇒ 4x − y − 8 = 0.

6. Find the equation of the line with slope 0 and passing through (−1, 2). Write it in the form
ax + by + c = 0, where a ≥ 0.

y − 2 = 0(x + 1) ⇒ y − 2 = 0.

7. Find the equation of the line with undefined slope and passing through (32, −2). Write it
in the form ax + by + c = 0, where a ≥ 0.

This is the vertical line x = 32 ⇒ x − 32 = 0.

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 8. Find the equation of the line passing through (2, 4) and (− 12 , 1) Write it in the form
ax + by + c = 0, where a ≥ 0.

1−4 −3
The line has slope m = − 12 −2
= − 52
= 65 . Thus the line has equation y − 4 = 65 (x − 2) ⇒
5y − 20 = x − 2 ⇒ x − 5y + 18 = 0.

9. Find the equation of the line passing through (− 45 , −2) and parallel to the line 2x−4y +1 =
0. Write it in the form ax + by + c = 0, where a ≥ 0.
1
2x − 4y + 1 = 0 ⇒ y = y + 14 so that the require line has slope m = 12 . Therefore, the
2
line has equation y + 2 = 2(x + 54 ) ⇒ 2y + 4 = 4x + 5 ⇒ 4x − 2y + 1 = 0.

10. Find the equation of the line passing through ( 52 , −5) and perpendicular to the line x +
4y + 10 = 0. Write it in the form ax + by + c = 0, where a ≥ 0.

Let `1 : x + 4y + 10 = 0 ⇒ y = − 14 x − 10
4
, so, that the slope of this line is m0 = − 14 .
Since the required line ` is perpendicular to `1 its slope is m = − m10 = 4. Then ` : y + 5 =
4(x − 52 ) ⇒ y + 5 = 4x − 10 ⇒ 4x − y − 15 = 0.

11. Find the equation of the line tangent to the circle x2 + y 2 = 9 at the point (0, −3). Write
it in the form ax + by + c = 0, where a ≥ 0.

The center of the circle is (0, 0). The line from the center to (0, −3) is vertical so that the
line tangent to the circle is horizontal. This line is y = −3.

12. Find the equation of the line tangent to the circle x2 + y 2 + 6x = 8y + 15 at the point
(−1, −2). Write it in the form ax + by + c = 0, where a ≥ 0.

x2 +y 2 +6x = 8y+15 ⇒ (x2 +6x+9)+(y 2 −8y+16) = 15+9+16 ⇒ (x+3)2 +(y−4)2 = 40.

Thus, the center of the circle is (h, k) = (−3, 4). The slope m of the required tangent line
to the circle at (−1, −2) (this is verified as a point on the circle by substituting in the
center-radius equation solved above) is negative reciprocal of the slope m0 of the line from
4−(−2)
the center to the point of tangency. Therefore m0 = −3−(−1)
= −3. Thus m = − m10 = 13 .
The equation of the line is y + 2 = 13 (x + 1) ⇒ 3y + 6 = x + 1 ⇒ x − 3y − 5 = 0.

13. Find the point on the x−axis that is equidistant to (7, 3) and (11, −1).

This point on the x−axis has coordinates (a, 0). Then, equating squares of distances, we
obtain (a − 7)2 + (0 − 3)2 = (a − 11)2 + (0 + 1)2 ⇒ a2 − 14a + 49 + 9 = a2 − 22a + 121 + 1 ⇒
−14a + 58 = −22a + 122 ⇒ 8a = 64 ⇒ a = 8.

2
14. The circle x2 + y 2 + h2 = 2hx + 2y + 33 passes through the point (3, −2). Find h and the
radius of the circle.

Complete the square: x2 + y 2 + h2 = 2hx + 2y + 33 ⇒ (x2 − 2hx + h2 ) + (y 2 − 2y + 1) =

33 − h2 + 1 + h2 ⇒ (x − h)2 + (y − 1)2 = 34. The circle passes through the point (3, −2)
so that (3 − h)2 + (−2 − 1)2 = 34 ⇒ h2 − 6h + 9 + 9 − 34 = 0 ⇒ h2 − 6h − 16 = 0 ⇒
√
(h + 2)(h − 8) = 0 ⇒ h = −2, 8. The radius of the circle is 34.

15. Find the equation of the line that contains a diameter of the circle x2 +y 2 +2x+4 = 8y and
is perpendicular to the line x + 3y + 2 = 0. Write your equation in the form y = mx + b.

x2 + y 2 + 2x + 4 = 8y ⇒ (x2 + 2x + 1) + (y 2 − 8y + 16) = −4 + 1 + 16 = 13 ⇒
(x + 1)2 + (y − 4)2 = 13. The required line passes through the center (−1, 4) since it
contains a diameter of the circle with this center. The slope of this line is m = 3, the
negative reciprocal of the slope of the given line y = − 13 x − 23 . Thus, the required line has
equation y − 4 = 3(x + 1) ⇒ y = 3x + 7.

16. For what values of r is there a line that is tangent to the circle x2 + y 2 + 10 = 6x + 2y + r2
and passes through the point (−1, 4)?

x2 + y 2 + 10 = 6x + 2y + r2 ⇒ (x2 − 6x + 9) + (y 2 − 2y + 1) = r2 − 10 + 1 + 9 ⇒
(x − 3)2 + (y − 1)2 = r2 . The center of the circle is (3, 1). The required line is tangent to
this circle and this line passes through the point (−1, 4). Now the radius r of the circle is
p
r = (3 + 1)2 + (1 − 4)2 = 5. r = 5.

We can actually find the equation of the line! If m is the slope of this line, then m = − m10 ,
where m0 = 4−1
−1−3
= − 34 . Thus the line has equation y − 4 = 43 (x + 1) ⇒ 3y − 12 = 4x + 4 ⇒
4x − 3y + 16 = 0.

Further Exercises with Selected Solutions

1. Find radius and center: x2 + 4x + y 2 + 20y = 0.

2. Find slope and intercepts: 3x − 3 = 7y.

3. Find the points on the x−axis and on the y−axis contained in the circle (x+2)2 +(y−4)2 =
25.

4. Does the graph represent a true circle? 2x2 + 8x + 2y 2 + 20y + 150 = 0.

5. Does the point (2, −3) lie on the line 4x − 2y = 15?

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6. Find k so that x2 − 12x + y 2 − 24y + k = 0 has radius 5.

7. Find b in 3x2 − 6x + 3y 2 + 12y = 14 + b so that the graph reduces to a single point.

8. Find r so that (x + 3)2 + (y − 1)2 = r2 is tangent to the y−axis. In this case, is the circle
tangent to the x−axis?

9. Give the 2 horizontal lines tangent to the circle 6x2 + 12x + 8y 2 + 16x = 0.

Solutions

1. Complete the square: x2 + 4x + y 2 + 20y = 0 ⇒ (x2 + 4x + 4) + (y 2 + 20y + 100) = 104

√
Thus, (x + 2)2 + (y + 10)2 = 104 ⇒ center is (−2, −10) and radius is r = 104.

2. 3x − 3 = 7y ⇒ y = 73 x − 3
7
has slope m = 37 .
√
3. The circle (x + 2)2 + (y − 4)2 = 25 contains the following points: (−5, 0), (1, 0), (0, 4 − 21)
√
and (0, 4 + 21), on the x−axis and y−axis by simply replacing y by 0 and x by 0 in the
equation of the circle, respectively. y = 0 ⇒ (x + 2)2 + 16 = 25 ⇒ (x + 2)2 = 9 ⇒ x + 2 =
√ √
−3, 3 ⇒ x = −5, 1 and 4 + (y − 4)2 = 25 ⇒ (y − 4)2 = 21 ⇒ y − 4 = − 21, 21 ⇒ y =
√ √
4 − 21, 4 + 21.

4. 2x2 + 8x + 2y 2 + 20y + 150 = 0 ⇒ 2(x2 + 4x + 4) + 2(y 2 + 10y + 25) = −150 + 8 + 50 ⇒

2(x + 2)2 + 2(y + 5)2 = −92 ⇒ (x + 2)2 + (y + 5)2 = −46. This equation has no solution
since the left hand side is always positive or 0, while the right hand side is a negative value.
It is the empty set and does not represent a circle.

6. x2 − 12x + y 2 − 24y + k = 0 ⇒ (x2 − 12x + 36) + (y 2 − 24y + 144) = −k + 36 + 144 ⇒

(x − 6)2 + (y − 12)2 = 180 − k = 25 ⇒ k = 155.

7. Find b in 3x2 − 6x + 3y 2 + 12y = 14 + b so that the graph reduces to a single point.

3x2 − 6x + 3y 2 + 12y = 14 + b ⇒ 3(x2 − 2x + 1) + 3(y 2 + 6y + 9) = 14 + b + 3 + 27 ⇒

44+b 44+b
(x−1)2 +(y +3)2 = 3
. The circle reduces to the point (1, −3) if the 3
= 0 ⇒ b = −44.

8. Find r so that (x + 3)2 + (y − 1)2 = r2 is tangent to the y−axis. In this case, is the circle
tangent to the x−axis?

The circle (x + 3)2 + (y − 1)2 = r2 will be tangent to the y−axis if the distance from
the center (−3, 1) of the circle to the y−axis is r. This is the distance from the center
(−3, 1) to the point (0, 1), as the line segment determined by these two points must be
perpendicular to the y−axis. This distance is simply r = 1 − (−3) = 4. Thus, r = 4.

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 Circles and Lines

Class Problems

1. Find an equation of the circle that passes through the point (− 21 , 11) and whose center is
( 27 , −3). Express the equation in standard form.

Solution.
The radius of the circle is simply the distance from the center and any of the points on the
circle. In the equation of the circle, however, all we need is the square of the radius. Therefore,
 2
1 7
2
r = − − + (11 − (−3))2 = 42 + 142 = 212.
2 2

The equation is  2
7
x− + (y + 3)2 = 212.
2

1
 2. Find the equation of the circle/s whose center is (5,−2), and the midpoint of the segment
joining the center and one of the points on the circle is (−2, 1). Express the equation in general
form.

Solution. (h, k) = (5, −2) is the center of the circle. Let (s, t) be the point on the circle
satisfying the condition given. Then

5+s −2 + t
−2 = , 1= ⇒ s = −9, t = 4.
2 2

Then
r2 = (5 − (−9))2 + (−2 − 4)2 = 196 + 36 = 232.

Thus, the equation of the circle is

(x − 5)2 + (y + 2)2 = 232 ⇒ x2 − 10x + y 2 + 4y − 203 = 0.

2
 3. Find an equation of the line that is perpendicular to the line −x + 7y + 10 = 0 and has
an x−intercept of 25 . Express the equation in slope-intercept form.

2
Solution. The x−intercept of 5
give a point ( 52 , 0) on the line. The given line −x+7y +10 =
0 ⇒ y = 71 x − 10
7
give the slope m = −7. It is the negative reciprocal of the slope 1
7
by definition
of perpendicular lines.
Thus, the equation of the line is y − 0 = −7(x − 52 ) or

14
y = −7x + .
5

3
 4. Find an equation of the line tangent to the circle with equation 3x2 +3y 2 −24x+30y+120 =
0 at the point (1, −5). Express the equation in point-slope form.

Solution. 3x2 +3y 2 −24x+30y+46 = 0 ⇒ 3(x2 −8x+16)+3(y 2 +10y+25) = −46+48+25 =

27. Thus, the equation of the given circle is (x − 4)2 + (y + 5)2 = 9, with center (4, −5) and
radius 3. The required line contains the point (1, −5). The slope m is the negative reciprocal of
−5−(−5)
the slope m0 from this point to the center: m0 = 1−4
= 0. This give a horizontal line so that
the required line is vertical and passes through (1, −5).
The equation is then x = 1.

4
 5. For what value/s of k is (4,−3) the midpoint of the segment joined by the points ( 3k−5
2
, 1−
k 2 ) and (8k + 1, 2k 2 − 8)?

Solution.
3k−5
2
+ 8k + 1 1 − k 2 + 2k 2 − 8
4= , −3 = .
2 2
3k−5 3k−5
Solving these, we have 8 = 2
+ 8k + 1 ⇒ 7 − 8k = 2
⇒ 14 − 16k = 3k − 5 ⇒ 19k =
19 ⇒ k = 1; and −6 = k 2 − 7 ⇒ k = −1, 1.
Thus, k = 1.

5
 6. Find the equation of the line all of whose points are equidistant from (3, 8) and (−1, 4).

Solution. A point on the line is the midpoint between (3, 8) and (−1, 4). This is, by
definition, (x, y) = (1, 6). The required line is perpendicular to the line from (3, 8) to (−1, 4). If
m is the slope of the required line, then − m1 = 8−4
3−(−1)
= 1 ⇒ m = −1.
Finally, the equation of the line is y − 6 = −1(x − 1) ⇒ x + y = 7.

6
 7. For what values of r is there a line that is tangent to the circle x2 + y 2 + 10 = 6x + 2y + r2
and passes through the point (−1, 4)?

Solution.
x2 +y 2 +10 = 6x+2y+r2 ⇒ (x2 −6x+9)+(y 2 −2y+1) = r2 −10 ⇒ (x−3)2 +(y−1)2 = r2 −10.
Now, (−1, 4) is a point on the circle, which means, (−1 − 3)2 + (4 − 1)2 = r2 − 10 ⇒ 16 + 9 =
√
25 = r2 − 10 ⇒ r2 = 35 ⇒ r = 35.