1

THEORY & SOLVED EXAMPLE(A)

CIRCLES
The circle is a locus of a point which is always at a fixed distance from a fixed point. The fixed point is
called centre of the circle the fixed distance is called radius of the circle.
i) The equation of a circle whose centre is (h, k) and whose radius is r, is
(x h)
2
+ (y k)
2
= r
2
. In particular the equation of a circle whose centre is origin is x
2
+ y
2
= r
2

ii) If a circle touches x-axis then absolute value of ordinate of the centre must be equal to the
radius i.e. |k| = r. Similarly if it touches x-axis i.e., |h| = r and if it touches both x and y-axis then
|h| = |k| = r For example the circles

2 2
( 5) ( 5) 25 x y + = (four combinations) touch x-axis and y-axis
iii) The equation S = x
2
+ y
2
+ 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 also represents a circle with centre as (g, f) and
radius as
2 2
g + f - c provided g
2
+ f
2
c > 0. This is called general equation of the circle.
iv) If we put the co-ordinates of a point P(x
1
, y
1
) in the equation of the circle S = 0 then we get a
numerical quantity
2 2
1 1 1 1
2 2 x y gx fy c + + + + . We denote it by S
1

a) If S
1
> 0, the point P lies outside the circle S = 0 and S
1
represents square of the length
of the tangent from P(x
1
, y
1
) to the circle S = 0.
b) If S
1
= 0, the point P lies on the circle. c) If S
1
< 0, the point P lies inside the circle
v) The chord lengths intercepted by the circle S = 0 on x and y-axis are
2
2 g c and
2
2 f c
respectively.
MAJOR RESULTS
i) The line y = mx + c will be a tangent to the circle x
2
+ y
2
= a
2
if c
2
= a
2
(1 + m
2
). If this is satisfied
the line will touch the circle x
2
+ y
2
= a
2
at the point
2 2
,
a m a
c c
| |

|
\ .
.
Thus the line y = mx a
2
1 m + will be a tangent to the circle
x
2
+ y
2
= a
2
for all values of m.
ii) The equation of tangent at (x
1
, y
1
) of the circle S = 0 is T = 0 where
T = xx
1
+ yy
1
+ g(x + x
1
) + f(y + y
2
) + c = 0. In particular the equation of tangent at (x
1
,y
1
) of the
circle x
2
+ y
2
= a
2
is xx
1
+ yy
1
= a
2
.
iii) If from P(x
1
, y
1
) tangents PA and PB are drawn to the circle S = 0 then equation of the chord of
contact AB is T = 0. In the case of the circle x
2
+ y
2
= a
2
the equation of chord of contact will be
xx
1
+ yy
1
= a
2
.
iv) The equation of pair of tangents drawn from an external point P(x
1
, y
1
) to the circle S = 0 is SS
1
= T
2

2
We can also find equation of tangents by the following method.
a) Take any line through P(x
1
, y
1
) by using a parameter m
b) If the line is a tangent to the circle the perpendicular distance of the centre of the circle
to the line will be equal to the radius of the circle. This will lead to a quadratic equation
(or degenerated quadratic equation) in the parameter.
v) If the circles S = 0, S' = 0 intersect in real point the equation of their common chord is S S' = 0.
If they touch the same equation represent one of the common tangents of them. In case they do
not intersect the equation S S' = 0 represents their radical axis. The radical axis of two circles is
define as locus of points from which lengths of tangents drawn to the two circles are equal. The
radical axis is perpendicular to the line joining the centres of the circles. The radical axis of three
circles taken pair wise are concurrent or are parallel.
vi) The equation of circles passing through the intersection of the two circles S = 0,
S' = 0 is of the form S + S' = 0 provided = 1. The equation of circles passing through the
intersection of the circle S = 0 and the line L = 0 is of the form
S + L = 0.
vii) The equation of circles passing through two given points A(x
1
, y
1
) and B(x
2
, y
2
) must be put in the
form (x x
1
) (x x
2
) + (y y
1
) (y y
2
) +
1 1
2 2
1
1 0
1
x y
x y
x y
= note that the circle whose diameter is
the line AB corresponds to = 0.
viii) The equation of circles touching the lines L = 0 at (x
1
, y
1
) is of the form
(x x
1
)
2
+ (y y
1
)
2
+ L = 0 since (x x
1
)
2
+ (y y
1
)
2
= 0, can be taken as a point circle.
ix) Two circles S = 0, S' = 0 are said to be orthogonal if at their point of intersection tangents drawn
to them are perpendicular. The condition for orthogonal intersection of two circle S = 0, S' = 0 is
2gg' + 2ff' = c + c'.
POSITION OF TWO CIRCLES
Let C
1
and C
2
be two circles with radii as r
1
and r
2
with r
1
> r
2
. If d be the distance between their centres
then following condition describe position of two circles
i) If d < r
1
r
2
then C
2
is completely contained in C
1
ii) If d = r
1
r
2
then C
2
touches C
1
internally.
iii) If r
1
r
2
< d < r
1
+ r
2
then C
1
and C
2
cut at two real points.
iv) If d = r
1
+ r
2
then C
1
and C
2
touch externally v) If d > r
1
+ r
2
then the two circles do not touch
COMMON TANGENTS
Two circles can have a number of common tangents. This number can vary from 0 to 4.
3
i) If d > r
1
+ r
2
then there are four common tangents whose lengths are
2 2
1 2
( ) d r r (length
of Direct common tangents) and
2
1 2
( ) d r r + (length transverse common tangents).
ii) The equations of common tangents can be obtained by finding the points of intersections P of
tangents using external and internal division formula since if the common tangents of the same
type touch circles at T
1
and T
2
and meet at P. Then
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
PC C T r
PC C T r
= = .
Standard Results and Important Tips
i) The co-ordinates of any point on the circle x
2
+ y
2
= r
2
may be taken as
(r cos u, r sin u) which are called parametric co-ordinates. The parametric equation of the circle
is given by
x = r cos u, y = r sin u. The parametric equation of the circle (x h)
2
+ (y k)
2

= r
2
is x = h + r cos u, y = k + r sin u where u is the parameter.
ii) The general equation of second degree ax
2
+ by
2
+ 2hxy + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 will represent circle if
a = b and h = 0.
iii) Lines ax + by + c =0, a'x + b'y + c' = 0 will cut axes in concylic points if
aa' = bb'
iv) The equation of the circumcircle circumscribing the triangle the equation of whose sides are L
1
=
0, L
2
= 0, L
3
= 0 must be of the form L
1
L
2
+ L
2
L
3
+ L
3
L
1
= 0.
SOLVED EXAMPLES ( CONVENTIONAL )
1. Tangents PAand PBare drawn from
( ) 1, 2 P to the circle
2 2
2 4 2 0 x y x y + + =
(i) find the length PA( or PB)
(ii) find the area of PAB A
(iii) find the equation of PAand PB
SOL :- (i)
2
PA or
2
PB
= value of circles equation for 1 x = and 2 y =
1 4 2 8 2 1 = + + + = 1 PA PB = = .
(ii) Equation of chord of contact ABmust be
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 0 x y x y + + + = or 2 1 0 x + =
4
Now PM =distance of
( ) 1, 2 P from
( )
2 2
2 1 1
1
2
2 0
AB
+
= =
+


2 2
1 3
1
4 2
AM PA PM = = =
Area of
1
2
PAB A = base. Height
3 1 3
2 2 4
= = square units.
(iii) Equation of any line through
( ) 1, 2 P is
( ) 2 1 y m x = + or 2 0 y mx m =
If this happens to be tangent to the given circle the length from the centre
( ) 1, 2 on
the line must be equal to the radius 3

2
2 2
3
1
m m
m

=
+
2 2
4 3 3 m m = + 3 m =
Thus the equation of tangents PAand PBare
( ) 2 3 1 y x = + and
( ) 2 3 1 y x = +
NOTE :- Part (iii) can also be done by using
2
1
SS T =
We already know the values of
1
S and T in this problem.

1
1 S = (
( )
2
length of PAor PB)
2 1 T x = + ( equation of chord of contact )
Therefore combined equation of PAand PBis

( ) ( )
2
2 2
2 4 2 .1 2 1 x y x y x + + = + or
2 2
3 6 4 1 0 x y x y + + =
Let
( )( )
2 2
1 2
3 6 4 1 3 3 y x x y y x C y x C + = + + (**)
On comparing coeff of , x y and constant terms , we get

2 1
6 3 3, C C =
2 1
4 , C C =
1 2
1 CC =
On solving first two we get
1 2
2 3, 2 3 C C = = + ,
These values satisfy the third equation
1 2
1 CC = The assumption ** is justified
Lines are 3 2 3 y x = + + and 3 2 3 y x = + .
5
2. The circle
2 2
1
: 2 4 0 C x y x y + = and
2 2
2
: 6 8 9 0 C x y x y + + + = intersect at Aand B .
(i) Find the length of the common chord AB.
(ii) If tangents are drawn to the circle
1
C at Aand B find the intersection points of these
tangents.
SOL :- The problem can be done by finding the coordinates of Aand B . The coordinates of Aand
B can be found by simultaneously solving the equation
1
C and
2
C . ( On subtracting , we get
8 4 9 0 x y + = put
8 9
4
x
y
+
= in one of the equation etc. )
The student is supposed to know the method of doing this problem without finding the
coordinates of Aand B .
(i) On subtracting the equations of
1
C and
2
C we get equation of common chord ABas
8 4 9 0 x y + = (A)
Now length of the from the centre
( ) 1, 2 of
1
C to the common chord
8 8 9
9
64 16 80
+
= =
+

Also radius of
1
5 C =
Half of chord
81 319
5 2
80 80
AB = =
Length of
319
2
80
AB =
(ii) If the tangents drawn at Aof
1
C intersect at
( ) , then ABis chord of contact of
1
C
Equation ABis
( ) ( ) 1 2 0 x y x y + + + =
Or
( ) ( ) ( ) 1 2 2 0 x y + + = (B)
Since (A) and (B) are same lines
1 2 2
8 6 9
+
= =

From which easily get 7, 8 = = . Thus tangents intersect at
( ) 7,8 .
3. Find all the common tangents to the circle
2 2
1
: 22 4 100 0 C x y x y + + = and

2 2
2
: 22 4 100 0 C x y x y + + + = . Find their lengths also.
6
SOL :- (
1
C and
2
C will also denote the centre of the two circles )
We first observe that if direct common tangents meets of P then
1 2
CC P is a straight line
and
1 1
2 2
C P r
C P r
= . Indeed
0
2
90 PC L Z =
( )
0
2
90 C LP Z = .
In quadrilateral
0 0 0
1 2 2 1 1 2
90 , 90 , 90 C C LN C LN LNC NC C Z = Z = Z =

0
1 2
90 C C L Z = +
0 0
1 2
90 90 C C L Z = + +
0
80
1 2
C C P is a straight
line.
The second result follows from similar triangles.
Now
1
C is
( )
1
11, 2 , 15 r = and
2
C is
( )
2
11, 2 , 5 r =
Since P lies externally . The coordinates of P are

( ) ( ) 15 11 5 11 15 2 5 2
,
15 5 15 5
x x x | |
|

\ .
i.e. P is
( ) 22, 4
Any line through
( ) 22, 4 may be taken as
( ) 4 22 y m x + = or 4 22 0 y mx m + + =

2
2 11 4 22
5
1
m m
m
+ +
=
+
7 3
,
24 4
m =
The direct common tangents are ( )
7
4 22
24
y x + = and ( )
3
4 22
4
y x + =
Or 7 24 250 x y = and 3 4 50 x y + = (*)
Again for transverse common tangents, we note that common tangent NLis intersected by

1 2
CC at P and
1 1
2 2
15
5
C P r
C P r
= =
P is
( ) ( ) 15 11 5 11 15 2 5 2
,
15 5 15 5
x x x + + | |
|
+ +
\ .
i.e. P is
11
, 1
2
| |

|
\ .

Now any line through
11
, 1
2
| |

|
\ .
may be taken as
11
1
2
y m x
| |
+ =
|
\ .

As before we get
24
7
m = or
4
3
Transverse common tangents are
7

24 11
1
7 2
y x
| |
+ =
|
\ .
and
4 11
1
3 2
y x
| |
+ =
|
\ .
Or 24 7 125 x y + = or 4 3 25 x y =
If we take one of the common tangents from (*) and solve it with
1
C and
2
C , we get the point
of contact of common tangents with
1
C and
2
C . The distance between the points of contact will
be the length of the direct common tangent. But the lengths can be found without finding these
points and without finding the equation of common tangents. Indeed length of the direct
common tangents ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 2 2 2
2
1 2
11 11 2 2 15 5 400 20 d r r = = + + = = . The
length of the transverse common tangent ( )
2
2
1 2
10 d r r = = .
4. Find the equations of the circles tangent to the lines 3 4 35 0 x y + = and 4 3 14 0 x y + + = and
passing through
( ) 1,5 .
SOL :- Let
( ) , h k be centre of a circle which touch both the lines and which passes through the point

( ) 1,5 then
( ) , h k must satisfy the equation of angular bisector of the given lines bisecting the
angle containing the point
( ) 1,5 . Now we note that origin and
( ) 1,5 are contained in the
same angle formed by the two given lines ( both origin and
( ) 1,5 are on the same side of both
the lines ) Therefore
( ) , h k must satisfy the equation of angular bisector bisecting the angle
containing origin i.e.
3 4 35 4 3 14
5 5
h k h k + + +
= + or 3 h k + = (i)
The equation of required circle must be of the form

( ) ( )
2
2 4 3 14
2
5
h k
x h h y k
+ + | |
+ =
|
\ .
(ii)
( radius =distance of
( ) , h k from one of the lines )
Since circle (ii) pas through the point
( ) 1,5 , we must have

( ) ( )
2
2 2 4 3 14
1 5
5
h k
h k
+ + | |
+ =
|
\ .
(iii)
On putting 3 k h = in (iii) , we get
2
49 104 404 0 h h + =

202
2,
49
h = whence corresponding values of k are 1and
349
49

Thus required circle are
( ) ( )
2 2 2
2 2 202 349 185
2 1 25,
49 49 49
x y x y
| | | | | |
+ = + +
| | |
\ . \ . \ .
.
8
5. Find all circle touching the coordinate axes and the line 3 4 24 0 x y + =
SOL :- If centre of such a circle lies in the first quadrant it must be of the form
( ) , r r where 0 r > (
since circle touch both axes ) and dist. From
( ) , r r on the line 3 4 24 0 x y + = should also
be equal to
3 4 24
5
r r
r r
+

+ and sign yield 12 r = and 2 r = respectively .
Two circles touching axes and the line3 4 24 0 x y + =

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 2 2 2
2
12 12 12, 2 2 2 x y x y + = + =
Again the centre of a circle having centre in the second quadrant and touching axes and the
given line must be
( )( ) , 0 r r r > and
3 4 24
5
r r
r
+
=
+ sign yields 6 r = which is inadmissible sign yields 4 r =
Thus another circle touching axes and the given line is

( ) ( )
2 2
2
4 4 4 x y + + = .
In the third quadrant
3 4 24
5
r r
r

=
Both values of r come out to be negative.
In the fourth quadrant
3 4 24
5
r r
r

=
6 r = ( By taking sign ) Circle is
( ) ( )
2 2
2
6 6 6 x y + + = .
6. Prove that the two circle through
( ) ( ) 0, , 0, a a which touch the lines y mx c = + will cut
orthogonally if
( )
2 2 2
2 c a m = + .
SOL :- All circles through
( ) 0, a and
( ) 0, a may be taken as
( )( ) ( )( )
1
0 0 0 1 0
0 1
x y
x x y a y a a
a
+ + + =

Or
2 2 2
2 0 x y ax a + + = (i)
Choose two values of fro two circles represented by (i), then
9

2 2 2
1
2 0 x y a x a + + = and
2 2 2
2
2 0 x y a x a + + =
Since these circles are orthogonal 2 2 gg ff c c ' ' ' + = +

( )( )
2 2
1 2
2 a a a a =
1 2
1 =
Now since circles (i) ( centre
( ) , 0 a , radius
2 2 2
a a = + ) touch 0 y mx c =
We must have
2 2 2
2
1
am c
a a
m

= +

On squaring and arranging this becomes
( )
2 2 2 2 2 2
2 0 a amc a m a c + + + =
The roots of this equations must be
1
and
2
and
1 2

= Product of the roots
2 2 2 2
2
a m a c
a

=
But
1 2
1 =
2 2 2 2
2
1
a m a c
a
+
=
( )
2 2 2
2 c a m = +
7. Show that the circle circumscribing the triangle whose sides are
cos sin sec sin x y a b + = + , cos sin sec sin x y a b + = +
cos sin sec sin x y a b + = + passes through the point
( ) 0, b .
SOL :- The equation of a conic circumscribing the triangle must be of the form

( )( ) cos sin sec sin cos sin sec sin x y a b x y a b + +

( )( ) cos sin sec sin cos sin sec sin x y a b x y a b + + +

( )( ) cos sin sec sin cos sin sec sin 0 x y a b x y a b + + + = (i)
Since this represents a circle
coeff of
2
x = coeff of
2
y (ii)
coeff of 0 xy = (iii)
(ii) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) cos cos cos cos cos cos sin sin sin sin sin sin + + = + +

( ) ( ) ( ) cos cos cos 0 + + + + + = (iv)
10
(iii)
( ) ( ) ( ) sin sin 0 + + + + + = (v)
Solving (iv) and (v) for and , we get
( ) ( ) ( )
1
sin sin sin


= =



( )
( )
( )
( )
sin sin
,
sin sin




= =

Now the circle (i) will pass through
( ) 0, b
If
( )( ) ( )( ) ( )( ) sec sec sec sec sec sec 0 a a a a a a + + =
Which is equivalent to cos cos cos 0 + + = (vii)
To prove (vii) it is sufficient to show
( )
( )
( )
( )
sin sin
cos cos cos 0
sin sin




+ + =


Which is indeed true in the light of C D formulas.
8. Two rods of length a and b slide along the axes in a manner that their ends are always
concyclic. Prove that locus of centre of the circle passing through these ends is the curve

( )
2 2 2 2
4 x y a b = .
SOL :- Let the centre of the variable circle be
( ) , and its equation be

2 2
2 2 0 x y x y + + = where is a parameter. Then
AA' = Chord length intercepted on x-axis
2 2
2 2 g c = =
But AA' = Length of the rod = a

2
2 a = , similarly
2
2 b = .
The required locus must be eliminate of these equations.
On squaring and subtracting, we easily get
( )
2 2 2 2
4 a b =
9. Aray is drawn from origin to cut the given circle
( )
2 2
2 0 x y a x a + = > at B . From B equal
segment BMand BN of constant length b are laid of in either direction. As the ray revolves
the points M and N describe a curve ( limacon of Pascal ). Find its equation.
SOL :- Let y mx = be any ray OBdrawn from Othen for B we solve y mx = and
2 2
2 0 x y a x + = .
We easily get
2 2
2 2
,
1 1
a am
x y
m m
= =
+ +

11
Let us now put equation of OBin parametric from with respect to point B ( since M and
N are situated at a distance b from B ).
Indeed equation of OBis
2 2
2 2
1 1
am a
y m x
m m
| |
=
|
+ +
\ .

Or
2 2
2 2
2 2
1 1
1/ 1 / 1
a am
x y
m m
m m m

+ +
=
+ +

For the points M and N we can equate to b and the squared result will be satisfied by both
M and N . Taking first expression equal to b and on squaring, we get

2
2
2 2
2
1 1
a b
x
m m
| |
=
|
+ +
\ .

But M and N satisfy the simple relation y mx = ( since they lie on OB).
Therefore on putting
y
m
x
= m, we get a pure relation between abscissa and coordinates of M
(or N ) as
2
2
2 2
2 2
2
1 1
a b
x
y y
x x
| |
|
= |
|
+ +
|
\ .
which easily simplifies to
( ) ( )
2
2 2 2 2 2
2 x y ax b x y + = + and which
is the equation of limacon of Pascal.