CHAPTER

13 Circle

Standard Equations of The Circle (c) The power of point is given by S1.
(a) Central Form: If (h, k) is the centre and r is the radius of the Tangent Line of Circle
circle then its equation is (x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r2. When a straight line meet a circle on two coincident points then it
(b) General equation of circle: x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0, is called the tangent of the circle.
where g, f, c are constants and centre is (–g, –f ) (a) Condition of Tangency: The line L = 0 touches the circle
 coefficient of x coefficient of y  S = 0 if P the length of the perpendicular from the centre to
i.e.  − ,−  that line and radius of the circle r are equal i.e. P = r.
 2 2 
(P > r)
and radius r = g2 + f 2 − c (P = r ) Tangent
(P < r ) Secant
Intercepts cut by the circle on axes P
The intercepts cut by the circle x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 on: r
(P = 0 ) Diameter
(i) x-axis = 2 g − c
2

(ii) y-axis = 2 f2 −c (b) Equation of the tangent (T = 0)

(i) Tangent at the point (x1, y1) on the circle x2 + y2 = a2 is xx1
Diameter form of circle
+ yy1 = a2.
(x – x1)(x – x2) + (y – y1)(y – y2) = 0 (ii) (1) The tangent at the point (a cos t, a sin t) on the circle
x2 + y2 = a2 is x cos t + y sin t = a.
The parametric forms of the circle
(2) The point of intersection of the tangents at the points
(i) The parametric equation of the circle x2 + y2 = r2 are x = r cos q, α+β α+β

y = r sin q; q ∈ [0, 2p].  a cos 2 a sin
2 
P(a) and Q(b) is  , 
(ii) The parametric equation of the circle (x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r2 is
 cos α − β cos
α−β 

x = h + r cos q, y = k + r sin q where q is parameter.  2 2 
Position of a point w.r.t. Circle (iii) The equation of tangent at the point (x1, y1) on the circle
(a) Let the circle is x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 and the point is x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is
       
(x1, y1) then:
xx1 + yy1 + g(x + x1) + f(y + y1) + c = 0
(iv) If line y = mx + c is a straight line touching the circle
C x2 + y2 = a2, then c = ± a 1 + m 2 and contact points
A
(x1, y1) P Q
 am 1   a2m a2 
are  ± ,±  or  ± , ±  and
 1+ m 2
1 + m2   c c 
Point (x1, y1) lies outside the circle or on the circle or inside  
the circle according as
equation of tangent is y = mx ± a 1 + m 2
⇒ x12 + y12 + 2gx1 + 2fy1 + c >, = , < 0 or S1 > , =, < 0

(b) The greatest & the least distance of a point A from a circle (v) The equation of tangent with slope m of the circle (x – h)2 +
with centre C & radius r is AC + r & AC – r respectively. (y – k)2 = a2 is (y – k) = m( x − h) ± a 1 + m 2
 Note: To get the equation of tangent at the point (x1, y1)
Director Circle
Equation of director circle is x2 + y2 = 2a2.
on any curve we replace xx­1 in place x2, yy1 in place of y2,
\ director circle is a concentric circle whose radius is 2
x + x1 y + y1 xy + yx1 times the radius of the circle.
in place of x, in place of y, 1 in
2 2 2 Note: The director circle of
x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + 2c – g2
place of xy and c in place of c. – f 2 = 0.

(c) Length of tangent ( S1 ): The length of tangent drawn

Pole and Polar
The equation of the polar is the T = 0, so the polar of point (x1,
from point (x1, y1) out side the circle y1) w.r.t. circle x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is xx1 + yy1 + g(x + x1)
+ f(y + y1) + c = 0.
   S ≡ x2 + y2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 is,
Pole of a given line with respect to a circle
   PT = S1 = x12 + y12 + 2 gx1 + 2 fy1 + c Similar terms we can get the coordinates of the pole. The pole of
      lx + my + n = 0
T
 −la 2 −ma 2 
P(x1, y1) w.r.t. circle x2 + y2 = a2 will be  , .
 n n 
Family of Circles
(a) The equation of the family of circles passing through the
points of intersection of two circles S1 = 0 & S2 = 0 is : S1 +
K S2 = 0 (K ≠ –1).
(b) The equation of the family of cirlces passing through the
(d) Equation of Pair of tangents (SS1 = T2): (x2 + y2 – a2) (x12 point of intersection of a circle S = 0 & a line L = 0 is given
by S + KL = 0.
+ y12 – a2) = (xx1 + yy1 – a2)2 or SS1 = T2.
(c) The equation of a family of circles passing through two
Normal of Circle given points (x1, y1) & (x2, y2) can be written in the form:
(a) Equation of normal at point (x1, y1) of circle x2 + y2 + 2gx + x y 1
2fy + c = 0 is (x – x1) (x – x2) + (y – y1) (y – y2) + K x1 y1 1 = 0 where
x2 y2 1
K is a parameter.
N (–g, –f )
(d) The equation of a family of circles touching a fixed line y – y1
= m(x – x1) at the fixed point (x1, y1) is (x – x1)2 + (y – y1)2 +
P K[y – y1 – m (x – x1)] =  0, where K is a parameter.
T
)x1 ,y1(
(e) Family of circles circumscribing a triangle whose sides are
given by L1 = 0 ; L2 = 0 & L3 = 0 is given by ; L1L2 + l L2L3
y + f 
y – y1 =  1
 (x – x1) + m L3L1 = 0 provided coefficient of xy = 0 & coefficient of
 x1 + g  x2 = coefficient of y2.
(b) The equation of normal on any point (x1, y1) of circle x2 + y2 (f ) Equation of circle circumscribing a quadrilateral whose side
y y  in order are represented by the lines L1 = 0, L2 = 0, L3 = 0
= a2 is  = 1  .
 x x1  & L4 = 0 are L1L3 + l L2L4 = 0 provided coefficient of x2 =
coefficient of y2 and coefficient of xy =  0.
chord of Contact
xx1 + yy1 + g(x + x1) + f(y + y1) + c = 0 (i.e. T = 0 same as equation Direct and transverse common tangents
of tangent). Let two circles having centre C1 and C2 and radii, r1 and r2 and
C1C2 is the distance between their centres then :
Equation of the chord with A Given Middle Point
(T = S1) (a) Both circles will touch
xx1 + yy1 + g(x + x1) + f(y + y1) + c = x12 + y12 + 2gx1 + 2fy1 + c (i) Externally if C1C2 = r1 + r2, point P divides C1C2 in the
which is designated by T = S1. ratio r1 : r2 (internally).

26 JEE (XI) Module-3 PW

 The angle of intersection of two circles
cos q =
P T 2 g1 g 2 + 2 f1 f 2 − c1 − c2  r 2 + r22 − d 2 
or cos θ = 1 
C1 C2 2 g12 + f12 − c1 g 22 + f 22 − c2  2r1r2 
the circles to be orthogonal is
2g1g2 + 2f1  f2 = c1 + c2
In this case there are three common tangents.
Radical axis of the two circles (S1 – S2 = 0)
(ii) Internally if C1C2 = | r1 – r2 |, point P divides C1C2 in the
Then the equation of radical axis is given by S1 – S2 = 0.
ratio r1 : r2 externally and in this case there will be only
Notes:
one common tangent.
(i) If two circles touches each other then common tangent is
radical axis.

P
C1 C2

S1 – S 2 = 0 S1 – S 2 = 0
(b) The circles will intersect
(ii) If two circles cuts each other then common chord is radical

when | r1 – r2 | < C1C2 < r1 + r2 in this case there are two axis.
common tangents.

S1 – S 2 = 0
C1 C2 (iii) If two circles cuts third circle orthogonally then radical axis
of first two is locus of centre of third circle.
(iv) The radical axis of the two circles is perpendicular to the line
joining the centre of two circles but not always pass through
mid point of it.
(c) The circles will not intersect
Radical centre
The radical centre of three circles is the point from which
length of tangents on three circles are equal i.e. the point of
intersection of radical axis of the circles is the radical centre of
the circles.
Notes:
(i) The circle with centre as radical centre and radius equal to
(i) One circle will lie inside the other circle if C1C2 < |r1 – r2|. the length of tangent from radical centre to any of the circle,
In this case there will be no common tangent. will cut the three circles orthogonally.
(ii) C1C2 > (r1 + r2) I
R C T1
1
A Q
B C2
T2
T2
C1 T1 C2
D
C III T3 II
S
P C3

Note: Length of direct common tangent = (C1C2 ) 2 − (r1 − r2 ) 2

(ii) If three circles are drawn on three sides of a triangle taking
Length of transverse common tangent = (C1C2 ) 2 − (r1 + r2 ) 2 them as diameter then its orthocenter will be its radical centre.
P
W Circle 27