Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan Catholic Schools

SAINT CHARLES ACADEMY

Senior High School Department
Malong St. San Carlos City, Pangasinan
SY: 2022-2023

Pre-Calculus
First Semester
Quarter 1

Concept Notes and Activity Sheets in:

Conic Sections

Competencies:
a. Illustrate the different types of conic sections: parabola, ellipse, circle, hyperbola, and
degenerate cases. (STEM_PC11AG-Ia-1)
b. Define a circle. (STEM_PC11AG-Ia-2)
c. Determine the standard form of equation of a circle. (STEM_PC11AG-Ia-3)
d. Graph a circle in a rectangular coordinate system. (STEM_PC11AG-Ia-4)

LESSON OUTLINE:
Lesson 1: Conic Section
a) Circle.
b) Standard form of the Equation of a Circle.
c) General Form of the Equation of a Circle.
d) Transforming the Equation of a Circle from the General Form to the Standard Form
and Vice Versa.
e) Graph a Circle in a rectangular coordinate system.
f) Problem solving involving circle.

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I. Discussion

Lesson 1:

CONIC SECTIONS
A 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒄 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 is the intersection of a plane and a double-napped cone. Observe the
shape of the slice that results. The angle at which the cone is sliced produces four different types
of conic sections.

There are three basic conic sections: parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas. Note that circle
is a special type of an ellipse.

Degenerate conic sections are formed when a plane intersects the cone in such a way that
it passes through the apex.

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 PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE
Slope of a line
Given line 𝑙 containing two distinct points 𝑃1(𝑥1, 𝑦1) and 𝑃2(𝑥2, 𝑦2) where 𝑥1 ≠ 𝑥2, then
the slope 𝑚 of line 𝑙 is computed as

y 2− y 1
m=
x 2−x 1

Distance Formula

The distance 𝑑 between two points 𝑃1(𝑥1, 𝑦1) and 𝑃2(𝑥2, 𝑦2) on a rectangular coordinate
plane is given by

d= √ (x 2−x 1)2 +( y 2 − y 1)2

Midpoint Formula

If (𝑥, 𝑦) is the midpoint of two points 𝑃1(𝑥1, 𝑦1) and 𝑃2(𝑥2, 𝑦2), then the coordinates of the
midpoint are given by
x 2+ x 1
x=
2

y2+ y1
y=
2
Completing the Square Method
To complete the square of a quadratic equation in the form of 𝐴𝑥2 + 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐶 = 0, the
following formula can be use

(x +
B 2
2A =
)
C
( )
+
A 2A
B 2

a. THE CIRCLE
A 𝒄𝒊𝒓𝒄𝒍𝒆 is the locus of a point that moves at a constant distance from a fixed point. The
fixed point is the 𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓, and the constant distance is the 𝒓𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒖𝒔. The radius as thus defined is
of course merely a number of linear units; the term is also used, as in elementary geometry, to
mean a line-segment joining the center and a point of the curve.

Fig. 1.3

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 b. STANDARD FORM OF THE EQUATION OF A CIRCLE

The general equation of a circle can be derived using the distance formula. Recall that the
distance between two points is given by
d= √ (x 2−x 1)2 +( y 2 − y 1)2

Fig. 1.3 Let the center C of a circle be located at point (h, k) and the radius be equal to r. also, let the
point P (x, y) be any point on the circle.

Fig. 1.3 A circle whose center is at (h, k) and radius r. Then, the distance from C to P is r; that is

√(x −x ) +( y − y ) =r
2 1
2
2 1
2

Squaring both sides of the equation leads to ( x−h)2 +( y−k )2=r 2

Therefore, the standard form of the equation of a circle whose center is at (h, k) and whose radius is r
is given by
2 2 2
(x−h) +( y−k ) =r , where r >0.

If the center of the circle is at the origin, that is h = 0 and k = 0, and the radius is r, then the equation
of the circle is given by
2 2 2
( x−h) +( y−k ) =r , where r > 0.

Given the center and radius, it would be easy to determine the equation of the circle. Consider the
example below.

Example 1: Determine the standard equation of the circle given the coordinates of its center and the
length of its radius.
a. center at (2, -3) and r = 3
1 1
b. center at ( , ¿ and r = 6
2 4
Solution:
The standard form of the equation of a circle is ( x – h)2 +( y −k )2=r 2. Substitute the value of
h, k, and r in the equation, then simplify.

a. Since h = 2, k = -3, and r = 3, then the standard form of the equation of the circle is

(x – 2)2 + [y – (-3)]2 = 32
(x – 2)2 + (y + 3) 2 = 9

1 1
b. Since h = , k = ,∧r =6 , then the standard form of the equation of the circle is
2 4

1 1
( x - )2 + ( y - ¿2 = 62
2 4
1 1
( x - )2 + ( y - ¿2 = 36
2 4

Example 2: Given the standard form of the equation, find the coordinates of the center and the radius
of each of the following circles.
a. (x + 9)2 + ( y – 1)2 = 25

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 1 2 16
b. x2 + ( y - ¿ =
4 9
2 2
c. (x – 6) + y = 15
Solution:
a) (x + 9)2 + (y – 1)2 = 25 [x – (-9)]2 + (y – 1)2 = 52
Thus, the center is at (-9, 1) and r = 5

b) x2 + (y -
1 2 16
4
¿ =
9
( x – 0)2 + (y -
1 2 4
4
¿ =
3() 2

( 14 ) and r ¿ 43 .
Thus, the center is at 0 ,

c) (x – 6) 2 + y2 = 15 (x – 6) 2 + (y – 0) = ( √ 15 )2
Thus, the center is at (6, 0) and r = √ 15

c. GENERAL FORM OF THE EQUATION OF A CIRCLE

The equation of a circle can be written in another form by expanding the binomials on the left
side of the equation and then combining similar terms. Thus,

(x – h)2 + (y– k)2 = r2

x2 – 2hx + h2 + y2 – 2ky + k2 - r2= 0
x2 + y2 – 2hx – 2ky + h2 + k2 - r2= 0
Where; D = -2h
E = -2k
F = h2 + k2 – r2
The last equation can be written in the general form of the equation of a circle, that is,
x2 + y2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0

Example 1: Write the general equation of a circle with the center (4, -1) and radius of 7 units.
Given: c= ( 4 ,−1 ) ,r =7
Solution:
2 2 2
( x−h) +( y−k ) =r
2
( x – 4 )2 + [ y – (−1 ) ] =7 2
2 2
( x – 4 ) +( y +1) =49
2 2
x – 8 x+16 + y + 2 y +1=4 9
2 2
x + y −8 x+ 2 y +1 6+1−49=0
2 2
x + y −8 x+ 2 y −32=0

Thus, the general form of the equation of the circle is

2 2
x + y −8 x+ 2 y −32=0

Example 2: Write the general equation of a circle with the center (0, 3) and radius of 6 units.

Given: c= ( 0 ,3 ) , r=6
Solution:
2 2 2
(x−h) +( y−k ) =r
2 2 2
x +( y −3) =6
2 2
x + y −6 y +9=36
2 2
x + y −6 y +9−36=0
2 2
x + y −6 y−27=0

Thus, the general form of the equation of the circle is

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Page | 6
 d. x + y −6 y−27=0 TRANSFORMING
2 2
THE EQUATION OF A CIRCLE
FROM THE GENERAL FORM TO THE STANDARD FORM AND
VICE VERSA
The next examples present the steps in writing the equation of a circle from the general form to
the standard form, and vice versa.

Example 1. Determine the standard form of the equation of a circle defined by

4x2 + 4y2 – 4x + 24y + 1 = 0.

Solution:
1
x2 + y2 – x + 6y + =0 Divide the given equation by 4 to reduce the equation to
4
its general form
−1
(x2 – x)2 + (y2 + 6y)2 = Group all the x and y terms and transpose the
4
constant term to the right side of the equation.
1 −1 1 1
(x2 – x + ¿ + (y2 + 6y + 9) = + + 9 Complete the square of the x terms and add to the right
4 4 4 4
1 1 1 side of the equation.
(1) = ( ¿ (6) = (3 ¿ Complete the square of the y terms and add 9 to the right
2

2 2 2
side of the equation
1
Adding and 9 to both sides of the equation will keep
4
its balance.
−1 2
(x ¿ + ( y + 3) 2 = 9 Factor the left side and simplify the right side of the
2
√9 = 3 equation.

Therefore, the standard form of the equation of a circle is

−1 2
(x ¿ + ( y + 3) 2 = 3
2
Example 2: Determine the general form of the equation of the circle defined by

(x + 5)2 + ( y - 6) 2 = 4
Solution:
(x + 5)2 + ( y - 6) 2 = 4
x + 10x + 25 + y 2 - 12y + 36 – 4 = 0
2

x2 + y 2 10x - 12y + 57 = 0
Thus, the general form of the equation of the circle is

x2 + y 2 10x - 12y + 57 = 0
Example 3: what is the center and the radius of the circle 4x2 + 4y2 + 12x – 4y – 90 = 0?
4x2 + 4y2 + 12x – 4y – 90 = 0
2 2
4x + 4y + 12x – 4y – 90 = 0
4
90 9 1 90 9 1 90 9 1 100
x2 + y2 + 3x – y – =0 (x2 + 3x + ) + (y2 – y + ) = + +
4 4 4 4 4 4 4 + 4+ 4 = 4
90
x2 + y2 + 3x – y =
4
90 3 1
(x2 + 3x) + (y2 – y) = (x + )2 + (y + )2 = 25 √ 25 = 5
4 2 2
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 1 3 1 1 3 1
( 3 )=( ) 2
( 1 )=( )
2
3 1
2 2 2 2 (x + )2 + (y + )2 = 5 x+
2
=0 y+
2
=0
2 2
3 1
x=- y=-
Therefore, the center and the radius of the circle is. 2 2

3 1
( - , - ) and 5
2 2
e. GRAPHING A CIRCLE IN A RECTANGULAR COORDINATE
SYSTEM
The rectangular coordinate system is used to sketch the graph of a circle. The graph provides a
clear view of its center and radius.

The first thing you need to know in order to graph the equation of a circle is where on a plane the
center is located. The equation of a circle appears as

(𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘)2 = 𝑟2

This is called the 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 − 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠 form (or standard form) because it gives you both pieces of
information at the same time. The ℎ and 𝑘 represent the center of the circle at point (ℎ, 𝑘), and 𝑟
names the radius. Specifically, ℎ represents the horizontal displacement — how far to the left or to the
right from the center of the circle falls from the 𝑦 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠. The variable 𝑘 represents the vertical
displacement — how far above or below from the center falls from the 𝑥 − 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠. You can count from
the center 𝑟 (the radius) units horizontally in both directions and vertically in both directions. This will
give you four different points, all equidistant from the center. Connect these four points with the best
curve that you can sketch to get the graph of the circle.

The simplest circle to graph has its center at the origin (0, 0). Because both ℎ and 𝑘 are zero, they can
disappear and you can simplify the standard equation of the circle to look like

𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 𝑟2

For instance, to graph the circle

𝑥2 + 𝑦2 = 16,

Follow these steps:

1. Realize that the circle is centered at the origin (no ℎ and 𝑘) and place this point there.
2. Calculate the radius by solving for 𝑟.
𝑟2 = 16
𝑟 = √ 16
𝑟 = 4 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡s

1. Plot the radius points on the coordinate plane.

You count out 4 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠 in every direction from the center (0, 0): left, right, up, and down.

2. Connect the dots to graph the circle using a smooth, round curve.

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Graphing a circle anywhere on the coordinate plane is pretty easy when its equation appears in center-
radius form which is also known as the standard form of the equation of the circle. All you need to do
is plot the center of the circle at (ℎ, 𝑘), and then count out from the center 𝑟 (the length of the radius)
units in the four directions (up, down, left, right). Then, connect those four points with a nice, round
circle. Unfortunately, while it is much easier to graph circles at the origin, very few are as
straightforward and simple as those. Fortunately, these graphs all follow the same pattern for
horizontal and vertical shifts, so you don’t have to remember many rules.

For example, to graph the equation

(𝑥 − 3)2 + (𝑦 + 1)2 = 25

1. Locate the center (ℎ, 𝑘) of the circle from the above equation.
(𝑥 − 3) 2 means that the 𝑥 − 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 of the center is positive 3. (𝑦 + 1) 2 means
that the 𝑦 − 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 of the center is negative 1.
Place the center of the circle at (3, −1).

2. Calculate the radius by solving for 𝑟.

𝑟2 = 25
𝑟 = √ 25
𝑟 = 5 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡s

3. Plot the radius points on the coordinate plane.

Count 5 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠 up, down, left, and right from the center at (3, −1).This means that
you should have points at (3, 4), (3, −6), (−2, −1), and (8, −1), respectively.

4. Connect the dots to the graph of the circle with a round, smooth curve.

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 f. PROBLEM SOLVING INVOLVING CIRCLE
Slope of a line
Given line 𝑙 containing two distinct points 𝑃1(𝑥1, 𝑦1) and 𝑃2(𝑥2, 𝑦2) where 𝑥1 ≠ 𝑥2, then
the slope 𝑚 of line 𝑙 is computed as
y 2− y 1
m=
x 2−x 1
Distance Formula

The distance 𝑑 between two points 𝑃1(𝑥1, 𝑦1) and 𝑃2(𝑥2, 𝑦2) on a rectangular coordinate
plane is given by

d= √ (x 2−x 1)2 +( y 2 − y 1)2

Midpoint Formula

If (𝑥, 𝑦) is the midpoint of two points 𝑃1(𝑥1, 𝑦1) and 𝑃2(𝑥2, 𝑦2), then the coordinates of the
midpoint are given by

x 2+ x 1
x=
2

y2+ y1
y=
2

Example 1: Find the standard equation of the circle whose the diameter has endpoints (-5, 3) and (7,
11).

Solution:
x 2+ x 1 7 +(−5) 2
x= = = =1
2 2 2

x 1=1

y 2 + y 1 11+ 3 14
y= = = =7
2 2 2

y 1=7

d= √ (x 2−x 1)2 +( y 2 − y 1)2

d= √ (7−1)2 +(11−7)2
Center: (1, 7) and r = 2√ 13
d= √ (6)2+(4)2
2 2
(x−1)2+( y −7)2=(2 √ 13) | (2 √ 13) =¿
| Page | 10
2 2
(x−1) +( y −7) =52
d= √ 36+ 16

d= √ 52

𝑑= √ 4.13 = 2√ 13

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Example 2: A seismological station is located at (0, -4), 4 km. away from a straight
shoreline where the x-axis runs through. The epicenter of an earthquake was determined
to be 6 km. away from the station.
a. Find the equation of the curve that contains the possible location of the
epicenter.
b. If furthermore, the epicenter was determined to be 1 km. away from the shore,
find its possible coordinates (round off to two decimal places.).

Solution:
Center: (0, -4) and r = 6
x2 + (y – (-4)2 = 62
x2 + (y + 4)2 = 36

Solve for x when y is 1 and -1

x2 + (y + 4)2 = 36 x2 + (y + 4)2 = 36 x = ± √11 or ± 3.31

x2 + (1 + 4)2 = 36 x2 + (-1 + 4)2 = 36
x2 + (5)2 = 36 x2 + (3)2 = 36 x = ± √ 27 or ± 5.2
x2 + 25 = 36 x2 + 9 = 36
x2 = 36 – 25 x2 = 36 – 9 epicenter ( 3.31, 1), (-3.31, 1)
x2 = 11 x2 = 27 (5.2, 1), (-5.2, 1)
x = ± √11 x = ± √ 27

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