SUMMARY OF CHAPTER ‘CIRCLE’

A Circle is locus of a moving point such that its distance from a fixed point remains fixed.

Note : General equation of 2nd degree ax 2 + by 2 + 2hxy + 2 gx + 2 fy + c = 0 represents a circle if

(i) D = abc + 2 fgh - af 2 - bg 2 - ch 2 ¹ 0 (ii) a = b and h = 0.

Standard Circle x2 + y2 = a 2 x 2 + y 2 + 2 gx + 2 fy + c = 0 or
2 2
x+g + y+ f = g 2 + f 2 - c = a2

Centre (0, 0) - g, - f
Parametric equations x = a cos q , y = a sin q x = - g + a cos q , y = - f + a sin q
where -p < q £ p where -p < q £ p
2
Tangent at (x 1, y1) T º xx1 + yy1 - a = 0 T º xx1 + yy1 + g x + x1 + f y + y1 + c = 0

Tangent in slope form y = mx ± a 1 + m2 y + f = m( x + g ) ± a 1 + m2

æ m am ±a ö æ m am ±a ö
point of contact of above ç , ÷ ç -g + 2
,- f + ÷
è 1+ m
2
1 + m2 ø è 1+ m 1 + m2 ø

Condition of tangency c 2 = a 2 1 + m2 p = r or c = mg - f ± a 1 + m 2
(for y = mx + c)
Normal at (x 1, y1) line through (x 1, y1) and centre line through (x1, y1) and centre
Chord of contact T =0 T =0

Length of tangent from a point S1 or x12 + y12 - a 2 S1 or x12 + y12 + 2 gx1 + 2 fy1 + c

outside (x1, y1)

Eq.of pair of tangents of a circle
T 2 = SS1 T 2 = SS1
drawn from a given point (x1, y1)

Angle between the tangents 2 tan -1 a / S1 2 tan -1 a / S1

Chord of circle whose mid point T = S1 T = S1

is (x1, y1)
2 2
Director circle x 2 + y 2 = 2a 2 x+g + y+ f = 2a 2

Equation of other circles :

(a) Equation of the circle having x1 , y1 and x2 , y2 as extremities of a diameter is
x - x1 x - x2 + y - y1 y - y2 = 0
2 2
(b) Circle with centre h, k and touching x-axis is x-h + y -k = k2
2 2
Circle with centre h, k and touching y-axis is x - h + y - k = h2

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Properties of Circles :
(a) Length of the intercept made by the circle x 2 + y 2 + 2 gx + 2 fy + c = 0 on x-axis is 2 g 2 - c

and that on y-axis is 2 f 2 - c .

(b) The greatest and least distance of a point P from a circle with centre C and

radius r is PC + r and | PC - r |
System of two Circles :
Condition Position Diagram No. of
common tangents

(i) d > r1 + r2 do not intersect or 4

one outside the other

(iii) d= r1 + r2 external touch 3

(v) | r1 – r2 |<d <r1+r2 intersection at two 2

real points

(iv) d = | r1 + r2 | internal touch 1

(ii) d < | r1 – r2 | one inside the other 0

Transverse common tangents are intersecting at T1 and direct common tangents are intersecting at T2.The
T1C1 r1 T2C1
points T1 and T2 divides C1C2 internally and externally in the ratio r1 : r2 i.e. T C = r = T C
1 2 2 2 2

Equation of the common tangents to two circles S1 = 0, and S2 = 0 at point of contact : S1 – S2 = 0.

This is same equation as that of the common chord if the circles are intersecting at two points.
r12 + r22 - d 2
Angle of intersection of circles is defined as : cos q = .Two circles x 2 + y 2 + 2 g i x + 2 f i y + ci = 0 ,
2r1r2
(i = 1,2) cut orthogonally i.e. q = 900 if 2g1g2 + 2f1f2 = c1 + c2
Family of the circles :
(a) Equation of any circle passing through points of intersection of the circle S1 = 0 and S2=0 is
S1 + l S 2 = 0 , l ¹ -1
(b) Equation of any circle passing through points of intersection of the circle S = 0 and the line L = 0 is
S + lL = 0
(c) Equation of family of circles circumscribing a triangle whose sides are given by L1=0,L2=0 and L3=0

is given by L1L2+mL2L3+nL3L1=0, provided coefficient of xy is 0 and coefficient of x2 = coefficient of y2.

CORPORATE CENTRE : 1501-03, Opp. HP Petrol Pump, Home Science College Road, Napier Town, JABALPUR
STUDY CENTRE : Opp. Jain Mandir, Main Road, Ranjhi, Jabalpur Page 2
HELPLINE No. 8349992501, 04, 09