CIRCLES AND TANGENCY

(1) FORMS OF A CIRCULAR EQUATION;

(i) Centre Radius form; (𝑥 − ℎ)2 + (𝑦 − 𝑘 )2 = 𝑟 2 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 (ℎ, 𝑘 ) 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠.
When circle touches x axis radius becomes the y coordinate of centre if it touches y axis, opp.
If both axes are touched, centre coordinates become (r, r)
(ii) General equation of circle; 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 2𝑔𝑥 + 2𝑓𝑦 + 𝐶 = 0
𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 (𝑥) 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 (𝑦)
𝐶𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑒 = (−𝑔, −𝑓) = (− ,− ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠 = √𝑔2 + 𝑓 2 − 𝑐
2 2
A unique circle has to pass through three non collinear points.
Equation is circle only if coefficient(x2) = coefficient(y2) and coefficient(xy) = 0
(iii) Diametric form; (𝑥 − 𝑥1 )(𝑥 − 𝑥2 ) + (𝑦 − 𝑦1 )(𝑦 − 𝑦2 ) = 0 where (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are
diametric ends. This will be the circle of least radius passing through two points.
Adding a quadratic with roots x1 and x2 with quadratic with roots y1 and y2 will give the
equation of a circle when (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are diametric ends.
(iv) Parametric form; For a circle with centre (0, 0), 𝑥 = 𝑟 cos ∅ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 = 𝑟 sin ∅
For a general equation, 𝑥 = −𝑔 + 𝑟 cos ∅ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 = −𝑓 + 𝑟 sin ∅ where r = √𝑔2 + 𝑓 2 − 𝑐
(2) Intercepts cut by a circle on x and y axes = 2√𝑔2 − 𝑐 and 2√𝑓 2 − 𝑐
If circle just touches the axes then this value will be 0.
(3) Length of chord of a circle = 2√𝑟 2 − 𝑃
(4) Position of a point (x1, y1) on a circle put in the equation of circle;
If C > 0 then outside the circle, If C = 0; on the circle, C < 0 then inside the circle.
(5) Power of point (S1) can be +ve, -ve or 0. For point P intersecting circle at A and B, PA.PB is
power of the point. Number of secants = PA.PB = PA1.PB1
(6) TANGENCY:
(i) Length of perpendicular from centre to tangent is equal to radius.
(ii) For 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑎2 and tangent y = mx + c, equation of tangent becomes
±𝑎𝑚 𝑎 𝑎2 𝑚 𝑎2
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 ± 𝑎√1 + 𝑚2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑝𝑡𝑠 = ( ,± ) = (± ,± )
√1 + 𝑚2 √1 + 𝑚2 𝑐 𝑐
(iii) For general equation; it becomes (y – k) = m(x – h) ± a√1 + 𝑚2
(iv) For cartesian form; if the point of contact (x1, y1) equation becomes;
𝑥𝑥1 + 𝑦𝑦1 + 𝑔(𝑥 + 𝑥1 ) + 𝑓 (𝑦 + 𝑦1 ) + 𝑐 = 0
(v) Parametric it becomes x cos t + y sin t = a for 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑎2
(7) Length of tangent = √𝑠1 = equation of circle from point where it is drawn. (x1, y1) in eqn.
𝑦1 +𝑓
(8) Normal of Circle; Equation of normal = (𝑦 − 𝑦1 ) = ( ) (𝑥 − 𝑥1 )
𝑥1 +𝑔
For 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑎2 , yx1 = xy1. Parametric; x sin t – y cos t = 0
(9) Distance of all three vertices from middle point of hypotenuse are equal.
(10) Side of an equilateral triangle inscribed in a circle is 𝑟√3.
(11) If two circles are internally touching, radical axis is common tangent; S1 – S2 = 0
(12) Equation of pair of tangents is SS1 = T2
(13) CHORD OF CONTACT: Line joining two points of contacts of tangent from same point.
(i) If tangents are drawn from point (x1, y1), their chord of contact becomes;
𝑥𝑥1 + 𝑦𝑦1 + 𝑔(𝑥 + 𝑥1 ) + 𝑓 (𝑦 + 𝑦1 ) + 𝑐 = 0
 2𝐿𝑅
(ii) Length of chord of contact = √𝐿2 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐿 𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡.
+𝑅2
𝑅𝐿3
(iii) Area of triangle formed by the pair of tangents and COC = .
𝑅2 +𝐿2
2𝐿𝑅
(iv) Angle between pair of tangents = tan 𝜃 =
𝐿2 −𝑅2
(v) Equation of circumcircle of the triangle between pair of tangents and COC is
(x – x1)(x + g) + (y – y1)(y + f) = 0 because it passes through centre.
−(𝑥1 +𝑔)
(14) Chord with a given mid-point is 𝑦 − 𝑦1 = (𝑥 − 𝑥1 ) or T = S1
𝑦1 +𝑓
(15) Director Circle; Locus of point of intersection of two perpendicular tangents. This locus is
always √2𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠.
(16) Distances of the vertices of a right-angled triangle from MP of hypotenuse are equal.
(17) FAMILY OF CIRCLES:
(i) Type 1; FOC through the points of intersection of 2 circles; S1 + kS2 = 0
(ii) Type 2; FOC through the points of intersection of circle and line; S1 + kL = 0
(iii) Type 3; FOC through two points (x1, y1) and (x2, y2)
(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )(𝑥 − 𝑥2 ) + (𝑦 − 𝑦)(𝑦 − 𝑦2 ) + 𝑘𝑙 = 0 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐿 𝑖𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 2 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑠.
(iv) Type 4; FOC touching a line at point (x1, y1) can be a point circle;
(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )2 + (𝑦 − 𝑦1 )2 + 𝜆𝐿 = 0
(18) Radical centre of three circles described on the sides of a triangle as diameters will be the
orthocentre of the triangle
(19) Image of orthocentre on a side of triangle will lie on the circumcircle.
(20) Circumradius = 2*Inradius for equilateral triangle.
(21) ANGLE BETWEEN TWO CIRCLES & RADICAL AXIS:
𝑟12 +𝑟22 −(𝐶1 𝐶2 )2
(i) cos 𝜃 = ( ) , 𝑖𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 𝑖𝑠 900 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑜𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑔𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑠
2𝑟1 𝑟2
(ii) 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑟𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑔𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦: 2𝑔1 𝑔2 + 2𝑓1 𝑓2 = 𝑐1 + 𝑐2 , or 𝑟12 + 𝑟22 = (𝐶1 𝐶2 )2
(ii) Locus of a point such that the tangents from it are of equal length to two circles is called
radical axis. 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: 𝑆1 − 𝑆2 = 0
(iii) If circles touch then RA is the common tangent between them. If they intersect then RA is
the common chord between them.
(iv) RA is perpendicular to the line joining the centre of the two circles. (If radii equal then it is
also through the mid-point)
(v) RA bisects common tangent to two circles.
(vi) If two circles are orthogonal to a third circle, then RA of both circles passes through centre
of third circle.
(22) DIRECT AND TRANSVERSE COMMON TANGENTS:
(i) 𝑙 (𝐷𝐶𝑇) = √(𝐶1 𝐶2 )2 − (𝑟1 − 𝑟2 )2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙 (𝑇𝐶𝑇) = √(𝐶1 𝐶2 )2 − (𝑟1 + 𝑟2 )2
(ii) If the circles don’t touch; then 𝐶1 𝐶2 > 𝑟1 + 𝑟2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2 𝑇𝐶𝑇𝑠 2 𝐷𝐶𝑇𝑠.
(iii) If the circles touch externally: 𝐶1 𝐶2 = 𝑟1 + 𝑟2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 1 𝑇𝐶𝑇𝑠 2 𝐷𝐶𝑇𝑠
(iv) If the circles intersect: |𝑟1 − 𝑟2 | < 𝐶1 𝐶2 < 𝑟1 + 𝑟2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2 𝐷𝐶𝑇𝑠
(v) If the circles touch internally: 𝐶1 𝐶2 = 𝑟1 − 𝑟2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 1 𝐷𝐶𝑇
(vi) If the circles are concentric no common tangent.
(vii) DCT: Both centres lie on same side of tangent. TCT: Centres lie on opposite side.