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Past Paper Questions: Circles

1 A diameter of a circle C1 has end-points at −3, −5
and 7, 3
.

(a) Find an equation of the circle C1 . [3]

C2
R
C1

x
O

@ A
8
The circle C1 is translated by to give circle C2 , as shown in the diagram.
4

(b) Find an equation of the circle C2 . [2]

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The two circles intersect at points R and S.

(c) Show that the equation of the line RS is y = −2x + 13. [4]

(d) Hence show that the x-coordinates of R and S satisfy the equation 5x2 − 60x + 159 = 0. [2]

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2 The points A 7, 1
, B 7, 9
and C 1, 9
are on the circumference of a circle.

(a) Find an equation of the circle. [5]

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(b) Find an equation of the tangent to the circle at B. [2]

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3 The coordinates of the points A and B are −1, −2
and 7, 4
respectively.

(a) Find the equation of the circle, C, for which AB is a diameter. [4]

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(b) Find the equation of the tangent, T , to circle C at the point B. [4]

(c) Find the equation of the circle which is the reflection of circle C in the line T . [3]

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4 The equation of a circle with centre C is x2 + y2 − 8x + 4y − 5 = 0.

(a) Find the radius of the circle and the coordinates of C. [3]

The point P 1, 2
lies on the circle.

(b) Show that the equation of the tangent to the circle at P is 4y = 3x + 5. [3]

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The point Q also lies on the circle and PQ is parallel to the x-axis.

(c) Write down the coordinates of Q. [2]

The tangents to the circle at P and Q meet at T .

(d) Find the coordinates of T . [3]

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5 (a) The coordinates of two points A and B are −7, 3
and 5, 11
respectively.

Show that the equation of the perpendicular bisector of AB is 3x + 2y = 11. [4]

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(b) A circle passes through A and B and its centre lies on the line 12x − 5y = 70.

Find an equation of the circle. [5]

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6 The equation of a circle is x2 + y2 − 4x + 6y − 77 = 0.

(a) Find the x-coordinates of the points A and B where the circle intersects the x-axis. [2]

(b) Find the point of intersection of the tangents to the circle at A and B. [6]

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7 The point A has coordinates 1, 5
and the line l has gradient − 23 and passes through A. A circle has

centre 5, 11
and radius 52.

(a) Show that l is the tangent to the circle at A. [2]


(b) Find the equation of the other circle of radius 52 for which l is also the tangent at A. [3]

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8 Points A −2, 3
, B 3, 0
and C 6, 5
lie on the circumference of a circle with centre D.

(a) Show that angle ABC = 90Å. [2]

(b) Hence state the coordinates of D. [1]

(c) Find an equation of the circle. [2]

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The point E lies on the circumference of the circle such that BE is a diameter.

(d) Find an equation of the tangent to the circle at E. [5]

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9

The diagram shows a circle with centre A passing through the point B. A second circle has centre B
and passes through A. The tangent at B to the first circle intersects the second circle at C and D.

The coordinates of A are −1, 4
and the coordinates of B are 3, 2
.

(a) Find the equation of the tangent CBD. [2]

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(c) Find, by calculation, the x-coordinates of C and D. [3]

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10 A circle has centre at the point B 5, 1
. The point A −1, −2
lies on the circle.

(a) Find the equation of the circle. [3]

Point C is such that AC is a diameter of the circle. Point D has coordinates 5, 16
.

(b) Show that DC is a tangent to the circle. [4]

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The other tangent from D to the circle touches the circle at E.

(c) Find the coordinates of E. [2]

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11 A circle with centre C has equation x − 8
2 + y − 4
2 = 100.

(a) Show that the point T −6, 6
is outside the circle. [3]

Two tangents from T to the circle are drawn.

(b) Show that the angle between one of the tangents and CT is exactly 45Å. [2]

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The two tangents touch the circle at A and B.

(c) Find the equation of the line AB, giving your answer in the form y = mx + c. [4]

(d) Find the x-coordinates of A and B. [3]

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12 A circle with centre (5, 2
passes through the point (7, 5
.

(a) Find an equation of the circle. [2]

The line y = 5x − 10 intersects the circle at A and B.

(b) Find the exact length of the chord AB. [7]

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13
y

B
P

A
x
O

The diagram shows the circle with equation x2 + y2 − 6x + 4y − 27 = 0 and the tangent to the circle at
the point P 5, 4
.

(a) The tangent to the circle at P meets the x-axis at A and the y-axis at B.

Find the area of triangle OAB, where O is the origin. [5]

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(b) Points Q and R also lie on the circle, such that PQR is an equilateral triangle.

Find the exact area of triangle PQR. [3]

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14 The line y = 2x + 5 intersects the circle with equation x2 + y2 = 20 at A and B.

(a) Find the coordinates of A and B in surd form and hence find the exact length of the chord AB.
[7]

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A straight line through the point 10, 0
with gradient m is a tangent to the circle.

(b) Find the two possible values of m. [5]

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15 The equation of a circle is x2 + y2 + 6x − 2y − 26 = 0.

(a) Find the coordinates of the centre of the circle and the radius. Hence find the coordinates of the
lowest point on the circle. [4]

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(b) Find the set of values of the constant k for which the line with equation y = kx − 5 intersects the
circle at two distinct points. [6]

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16 The equation of a circle is x2 + y2 + ax + by − 12 = 0. The points A 1, 1
and B 2, −6
lie on the
circle.

(a) Find the values of a and b and hence find the coordinates of the centre of the circle. [4]

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(b) Find the equation of the tangent to the circle at the point A, giving your answer in the form
px + qy = k, where p, q and k are integers. [4]

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17
y

B 0, 2

O P
x

x − 2
2 + y + 4
2 = 20

The diagram shows the circle with equation x − 2
2 + y + 4
2 = 20 and with centre C. The point B
has coordinates 0, 2
and the line segment BC intersects the circle at P.

(a) Find the equation of BC. [2]

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(b) Hence find the coordinates of P, giving your answer in exact form. [5]

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18
y

y = 3x − 20
x + 1
2 + y − 2
2 = 85

A
C
x
O

The circle with equation x + 1
2 + y − 2
2 = 85 and the straight line with equation y = 3x − 20 are
shown in the diagram. The line intersects the circle at A and B, and the centre of the circle is at C.

(a) Find, by calculation, the coordinates of A and B. [4]

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(b) Find an equation of the circle which has its centre at C and for which the line with equation
y = 3x − 20 is a tangent to the circle. [4]

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