Handout 2

Conic Sections – Circle and Parabola

Conic sections are the curves obtained when a plane cuts the cone. A cone generally has two
identical conical shapes known as nappes (see the figure below).

Conic sections are generated by the intersection of a plane with a cone. If the plane is
perpendicular to the axis of revolution or is parallel to the x -axis, the conic section is a circle. If
the plane intersects one nappe at an angle to the axis (other than 90°), then the conic section is
an ellipse. If the plane is parallel to the generating line, the conic section is a parabola. If the
plane is parallel to the axis of revolution (the y -axis), then the conic section is a hyperbola.

CIRCLE

Definition: Circle

A circle is the set of all points in a plane that are equidistant from a given point in the plane. The
given point is called the center, (h , k ), and the fixed distance is called the radius, r , of the circle.

Deriving the standard form of the equation of a Circle with radius r

and center (h , k ).
Let C (h , k ) be the center and P( x , y ) be a point on the circle. Hence, x 1=h , y 1=k , x 2=x and y 2= y
. Also, let the distance between points C and P as r . Using the distance formula:

√ 2
d= ( x 2−x 1 ) + ( y 2− y1 )
2

r =√ ( x−h ) + ( y−k )
2 2

2
( r )2=( √ ( x−h )2 + ( y−k )2 )
2 2 2
r = ( x −h ) + ( y−k )

Definition: Standard Form of the Equation of a Circle

The standard form of the equation of a circle with center, (h , k ) and radius, r , is:

( x−h )2+ ( y −k )2=r 2

Writing the Equation of a Circle

Example 1: Write the equation of a circle whose center is at (2 ,−5) and a radius of 3 in the
standard form.

Solution:
Let the center be equal to C (2 ,−5). Hence h=2, k =−5

( x−h )2+ ( y −k )2=r 2

( x−2 )2 + ( y−(−5) )2=(3)2
( x−2 )2 + ( y +5 )2=9

Therefore, the standard form of the equation of a circle with center at (2 ,−5) and a radius
2 2
of 3 is ( x−2 ) + ( y +5 ) =9.

Example 2: Write the standard form of the circle whose center is at −4 , ( 2

3) 1
and r = .
5

Solution:

(
Let C −4 ,
2
3 ) 2
be the center of the circle. Hence h=−4 and k = .
3

( x−h )2+ ( y −k )2=r 2

2 2 1
( ) ()
2
2
( x−(−4 ) ) + y− =
3 5

( )
2
( x +4 )2+ y − 2 = 1
3 25

2
Therefore, the standard form of the equation of a circle with center at (−4 , ) and a radius
3

( )
2
1 2 2 1
of is ( x +4 ) + y − = .
5 3 25

Finding the Center and the Radius of a Circle Given its Standard Form
Example 1: Find the coordinates of the center and the radius of the circle whose equation is
( x +1 )2+ ( y−3 )2=4 .

Solution:
2 2 2
Since the standard form of the circle is ( x−h ) + ( y −k ) =r

We have:

x−h=x+ 1
x−x−h=1
−h=1
h=−1

Also:

y−k= y −3
y− y−k =−3
−k =−3
k =3

Looking into the equation we have r 2=4 or r =2

2 2
From this we can conclude that the center of the circle whose equation is ( x +1 ) + ( y−3 ) =4
is at (−1 , 3) and its radius is 3.

The General Form of the Equation

Definition: General Form of the Equation of a Circle

The general form of the equation of a circle is given by:

a x +a y +bx+ cy +d , a ≠ 0
2 2

Writing the Equation of a Circle into the Standard Form

Example 1: Write 2 x2 +2 y 2−12 x+16 y −31=0 in the standard form.

Solution:

Move the constant term on the right side of the equation by adding 31 on both sides.
2 2
2 x +2 y −12 x+16 y −31+31=0+31
2 2
2 x +2 y −12 x+16 y =31

Group the terms having the same variables.

2 2
2 x +2 y −12 x+16 y =31
2 x2 −12 x +2 y 2+16 y =31
( 2 x 2−12 x ) + ( 2 y 2 +16 y )=31

Factor out a numerical coefficient on both groups.

 ( ( 2 ⋅1 ) x 2−( 2 ⋅6 ) x ) + ( ( 2 ⋅ 1 ) y 2+ ( 2 ⋅8 ) y ) =31
2 ( x −6 x ) +2 ( y + 8 y ) =31
2 2

Make ( x 2−6 x ) and ( y 2 +6 y ) a perfect square trinomial by completing the squares.

Simplifying the resulting equation.

2 ( x 2−6 x+ 9 ) +2 ( y 2 +8 y +16 ) =31+ 2 ( 9 )+ 2(16)

2 ( x −6 x+ 9 ) +2 ( y +8 y +16 ) =31+18+ 32
2 2

2 ( x −6 x+ 9 ) +2 ( y +8 y +16 ) =81
2 2

2 ( ( x −6 x +9 ) + ( y + 8 y+16 ) ) =81
2 2

81
( x 2−6 x +9 ) + ( y 2+ 8 y+16 )=¿ 2

Write ( x 2−6 x +9 ) and ( y 2 +8 y +16 ) in the factored form.

81
( x−3 )2 + ( y + 4 )2=¿
2

Example 2: Determine the coordinate of the center and the length of the radius of a circle whose
equation is 4 x2 + 4 y 2−8 x +4 y=103.

Solution:
Write 4 x2 + 4 y 2−8 x +4 y=103 in the standard form.

2 2
4 x + 4 y −8 x +4 y=103
2 2
4 x −8 x+ 4 y +4 y=103
( 4 x 2−8 x )+ ( 4 y 2+ 4 y ) =103
4 ( x 2−2 x ) + 4 ( y 2 + y ) =103
2
( 41 )=103+4 (1) + 4( 14 )
4 ( x −2 x +1 ) + 4 y + y+
2

4 ( x −2 x +1 ) + 4 ( y + y+ ) =103+4 +1
2 1 2
4

( 2
4 )
4 ( x −2 x +1 ) +( y + y + ) =108
1 2

( x −2 x+ 1 )+ ( y + y + 1 )=¿ 10 8
2 2
4 4

( x−1 ) +( y+ 1 ) =¿ 27
2
2

2
1
From the resulting equation we have x−h=x−1 and y−k= y + . Solving for x and y we
2
have:
 1
x−h=x−1 y−k= y +
2
1
−h=−1 −k =
2
−1
h=1 k=
2
Hence the center of the circle is at 1 ,−
1
2( . )
For the radius, since r 2=27, then the radius is √ 27 units.

Advance Problem

Example 1: Find the equation of the circle that has its center at (3 ,−1) and that passes through
the point (−2 , 2) .

Solution:
Let B=(−2 , 2 ) be the center of the circle and
A=(3 ,−1) be the point on the circle. The
distance between A and B is the radius r of the
circle (see the figure).

Solve for r :
x 1=−2, y 1=2, x 2=3 and y 2=−1

√ 2
d= ( 3−(−2 ) ) + (−1−2 )
2

d= √( 3+ 2 ) + (−3 )
2 2

d= √( 5 ) +9
2

d= √ 25+ 9
d= √34
Since d= √34 ,
r 2=d 2
2
r = ( √ 34 )
2

2
r =34
Since the center is at ¿) then h=−2 and k =2. Also r =34. From this, the equation of the
circle is:

( x−(−2 )) 2+ ( y −2 )2=34
( x +2 )2+ ( y−2 )2=34

Example 2: The two points (−2 , 4) and (4 , 2) are the

endpoints of a diameter of a circle. Write the equation
of the circle in standard form.

Solution:
 D
Recall that the radius of a circle is half the length of that of the diameter or r = . Find the
2
length of the diameter by using the distance formula.

Let A=(−2 , 4 ) and B=(4 ,2) as the endpoints of the diameter. Hence, x 1=−2, y 1=4, x 2=4
and y 2=2.

√ 2
D=d= ( 4−(−2 )) + ( 2−4 )
2

D=d=√ ( 4−(−2 )) + ( 2−4 )

2 2

D=d=√ ( 4 +2 ) + (−2 )
2 2

D=d=√ ( 6 ) +4
2

D=d=√ 36+ 4
D=d=√ 40
D=d=√ ( 4)(10)
D=d=2 √ 10 units

Since D=2 √ 10, then

D
r=
2
2 √ 10
r=
2
r =√10 units
The center of the circle is the midpoint of the diameter. Since A=(−2 , 4 ) and B=(4 ,2),
then x 1=−2, y 1=4, x 2=4 and y 2=2. From this:

C= ( x1 + x2 y1 + y2
2
,
2 )
C=( −2+2 4 , 4+22 )
C=( , )
2 6
2 2
C=( 1 ,3 )

The center of the circle is at (1 , 3). Hence, h=1 and k =3. The radius of the circle is √ 10
units. From this, the equation of the circle is:

( x−h )2+ ( y −k )2=r 2

2
( x−1 )2 + ( y−1 )2=( √10 )
( x−1 )2 + ( y−1 )2=10