Core 1

Coordinate Geometry

Section 2: Curves and circles

Notes and Examples
These notes and examples contain subsections on
• The equation of a circle
• Finding the equation of a circle
• Circle geometry
• The intersection of a line and a curve
• The intersection of two curves

The equation of a circle

Start this section by looking at the Circles dynamic spreadsheet. Select the
Circle Equations sheet. First, set the centre of the circle to be the origin and
vary the radius. Look at how the equation of the circle changes.

Now vary the coordinates of the centre of the circle, and look at how the
equation of the circle changes.

You can also explore equations of circles using the Flash resources Equation
of a circle centre O and Equation of a circle centre (a, b).

You should find out the following results, which you need to learn:

The general equation of a circle, centre the origin and radius r is

x2 + y 2 = r 2

The general equation of a circle, centre (a, b) and radius r is

( x − a ) 2 + ( y − b) 2 = r 2

Make sure you understand why these

equations describe circles. See page
62 in the textbook for help.

Example 1
For each of the following circles find (i) the coordinates of the centre and (ii) the
radius.
(a) x² + y² = 49
(b) (x + 2)² + (y − 6)² = 9

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Solution
(a) x² + y² = 49 can be written as x² + y² = 7². This is a particular case of the
(i) The coordinates of the centre are (0, 0) general form x² + y² = r²
(ii) The radius is 7. which has centre (0, 0) and
radius r.

(b) (x + 2)² + (y − 6)² = 9 can be written as (x − (−2))² + (y − 6)² = 3².

(i) The coordinates of the centre are (−2, 6)
(ii) The radius is 3.
This is a particular case of the
general form (x − a)² + (y − b)² = r²
which has centre (a, b) and radius r.

For practice in examples like the one above, try the interactive questions
Finding the radius and centre of a circle (circle equation in its simplest
form).

Sometimes the circle equation needs to be rearranged into its standard form
before you can find the centre and radius.

Example 2
Show that the equation x 2 + y 2 + 4 x − 6 y − 3 = 0 represents a circle, and find its centre
and radius.

Solution
The general equation of a circle is ( x − a ) 2 + ( y − b) 2 = r 2
Multiplying out: x 2 − 2ax + a 2 + y 2 − 2by + b 2 = r 2
x 2 + y 2 − 2ax − 2by + a 2 + b 2 − r 2 = 0
Comparing with the original equation: −2 a = 4 ⇒ a = − 2
−2b = −6 ⇒ b = 3
a 2 + b 2 − r 2 = −3 ⇒ 4 + 9 − r 2 = −3
⇒ r 2 = 16
The equation can be written as ( x + 2) 2 + ( y − 3) 2 = 42
This is the equation of a circle, centre (-2, 3), radius 4.

For practice in examples like the one above, try the interactive questions
Finding the radius and centre of a circle (circle equation in its expanded
form).

In the example above, you are using the technique of completing the
square, which is covered briefly in Chapter 1 (pages 19 – 20), and in more
depth in Chapter 3 (pages 98 – 99).

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Finding the equation of a circle
In Section 1 you looked at different ways of finding the equation of a line. You
can find the equation of a line from the gradient and the intercept, or from the
gradient and one point on the line, or from two points on the line.

In the same way, there are several ways of finding the equation of a circle,
depending on the information available.

Finding the equation of a circle from the radius and centre

Example 3
Find the equation of each of the following.
(a) a circle, centre (0, 0) and radius 4.
(b) a circle, centre (3, −4) and radius 6.

Solution
(a) The equation of a circle centre the origin is x² + y² = r²

r = 4 so the equation is x² + y² = 4²
i.e. x² + y² = 16

(b) The equation of a circle centre (a, b) and radius r is (x – a)² + (y – b)² = r²

a = 3, b = −4 and r = 6 so the equation is (x − 3)² + (y − (−4))² = 6²

i.e. ( x − 3)² + ( y + 4)² = 36

Finding the equation of a circle from its centre and one point on its
circumference
If you know the centre of the circle and one point on its circumference, you
can find the radius by calculating the distance between these two points. You
can then find the equation of the circle.

Example 4
Find the equation of the circle, centre (1, -2), which passes through the point (-2, -3).

Solution
The distance r between (1, -2) and (-2, -3) is given by:
r= (1 − (−2) ) + ( −2 − (−3) )
2 2

= 32 + 12
= 10
The radius of the circle is therefore 10 .
The equation of the circle is ( x − 1)2 + ( y + 2) 2 = 10

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For practice in examples like the one above, try the interactive questions Find
the equation of a circle.

Finding the equation of a circle from three points on its circumference

To find the equation of a line, you need the coordinates of two points on the
line. To find the equation of a circle, you need the coordinates of three points
on the circumference of the circle.

One method is illustrated by the Circles dynamic spreadsheet. Select the

sheet Circumcentre and follow the instructions on the sheet. This
demonstration shows that the centre of the circle is the intersection of the
perpendicular bisector of each pair of points.

To find the centre of a circle through three points A, B and C, it is sufficient to

find two of the perpendicular bisectors. For example, you can find the
equations of the perpendicular bisectors of AB and BC, and then solve these
equations simultaneously to find the point of intersection, i.e. the centre of the
circle.

You can then use the coordinates of the centre and one of the three points A,
B and C to find the radius of the circle (as in Example 4), and hence find the
equation of the circle.

Example 5
Find the equation of the circle passing through A (1, −3), B (9, 1) and C (8, 4).

Solution
A sketch is often helpful.
C (8, 4) The sketch does not need to
be accurate. It gives some
idea of roughly where the
centre is, so you can check
B (9, 1)
your answer is reasonable.

A (1, -3) You want to find the equation of the

perpendicular bisector of AB. This is
perpendicular to AB and passes
through the midpoint M of AB.

y 2 − y1
The gradient of AB is found by using m = Note: Looking at the
x 2 − x1
sketch we expect the
1 − ( −3) 4 1 gradient of AB to be
m= = =
9−1 8 2 positive.

Using m1m2 = −1 , the gradient of the perpendicular bisector is −2.

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⎛ x + x y + y2 ⎞
The midpoint M of AB is found by using M = ⎜ 1 2 , 1 ⎟.
⎝ 2 2 ⎠
⎛ 1 + 9 −3 + 1 ⎞
You are given A(1, -3) and B(9, 1) so M is ⎜ , ⎟ = (5, −1)
⎝ 2 2 ⎠

The perpendicular bisector is found using y − y1 = m ( x − x1 ) with ( x1 , y1 ) = (5, 1)

and m = −2.
so y − ( −1) = −2( x − 5)
y + 1 = −2x + 10
y = −2x + 9 (equation I)

Next, use the same method

to find the perpendicular
bisector of BC.

4 −1
The gradient of BC is = −3 Note: Looking at the sketch,
8−9 we expect the gradient of BC
to be negative.

1
Therefore the gradient of the perpendicular bisector of BC is .
3

⎛ 9 + 8 1+ 4 ⎞
The midpoint N of BC is ⎜ , ⎟ so N is (8.5, 2.5).
⎝ 2 2 ⎠
The equation of the perpendicular bisector is y − 2.5 = 13 (x − 8.5)
3(y − 2.5) = x − 8.5
3y − 7.5 = x − 8.5
3y = x + 1 (equation II)

Next, find the coordinates of the

centre of the circle by solving
y = −2x + 9 (equation I) equations (I) and (II) simultaneously.
3y = x + 1 (equation II)

Substituting (I) into (II) 3(−2x + 9) = x + 1

−6x + 27 = x + 1
28 = 7x
x=4

Substituting x = 4 into equation (I) gives y = −2(4) + 9 = 1

So the coordinates of the centre are (4, 1).
Note: Looking at the
sketch this appears to
be a plausible result.

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The radius is the distance between the centre (4, 1) and a point on the circumference
such as (9, 1). This can be found by using d = ( x1 − x 2 ) 2 + ( y1 − y 2 ) 2 .

radius = ( 9 − 4 ) 2 + (1 − 1) 2 = 25 = 5

Finally, using the general form (x − a)² + (y − b)² = r² with a = 4, b = 1 and r = 5 the
equation of the circle is
(x − 4)² + (y − 1)² = 25. Note: You should check that
each of the points A, B and C
satisfy this equation.

Circle geometry
The three facts about circles given on pages 63 and 64 are important. They
often help to solve problems involving circles.

1. The angle in a semicircle is a right angle.

See the Flash resource The angle in a semicircle for a
demonstration.

2. The perpendicular from the centre of a circle to a chord bisects the

chord.
See the Flash resource Perpendicular to a chord for a
demonstration.

3. The tangent to a circle is perpendicular to the radius at that point

See the Flash resource Tangent and radius for a demonstration.

Keep these properties in mind when dealing with problems involving circles.

The intersection of a line and a curve

Just as the point of intersection of two straight lines can be found by solving
the equations of the two lines simultaneously, the point(s) of intersection of a
line and a curve can be found by solving their equations simultaneously.

In many cases, the equations of both the line and the curve are given as an
expression for y in terms of x. When this is the case, a sensible first step is to
equate the expressions for y, as this leads to an equation in x only.

Example 6
Find the coordinates of the points where the line y = x + 2 meets the curve y = x² − 3x
+ 5.

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Solution
Equate the expressions for y
x² − 3x + 5 = x + 2 to give an equation in x only
x² − 4x + 3 = 0
(x − 3)(x − 1) = 0
x = 3 or x = 1
Substitute the x values into the
equation of the line
When x = 3 then y = 3 + 2 = 5
When x = 1 then y = 1 + 2 = 3.

The points where the line meets the curve are (3, 5) and (1, 3).

You should check that each of these points satisfies

the equation of the curve. (You have already used
the equation of the line to find the y-values).

Notice that this problem involved solving a quadratic equation, which in this
case had two solutions, showing that the line crossed the curve twice.
However, the quadratic equation could have had no solutions, which would
indicate that the line did not meet the curve at all, or one repeated solution,
which would indicate that the line touches the curve.

You can look at some examples with the Flash resource Intersection of a
curve and a line.

For practice in examples like the one above, try the interactive questions
Quadratic and line intersection.

The next example looks at the intersection of a line and a circle. Before
reading this example, look at the Circles dynamic spreadsheet. Select the
sheet Circle and a line. Try varying the equation of the line and/or the circle,
and make sure that you can see that there may be two intersections, no
intersections or one intersection (in which case the line touches the circle).

You can also look at the Flash resource Intersection of a circle and a line.

Example 7
Find the coordinates of the point(s) where the circle ( x + 2) 2 + ( y − 1) 2 = 9 meets
(i) the line y = 5
(ii) the line x = 1
(iii) the line y = 2 – x

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Solution
(i) Substituting y = 5 into the equation of the circle:
( x + 2) 2 + (5 − 1) 2 = 9 The expression (x + 2)²
cannot be negative
( x + 2) + 16 = 9
2

( x + 2) 2 = −7
There are no solutions. The line does not meet the circle.

(ii) Substituting x = 1 into the equation of the circle:

(1 + 2) 2 + ( y − 1) 2 = 9
9 + ( y − 1) 2 = 9 The point is on the line x = 1,
so its x-coordinate must be 1.
( y − 1) 2 = 0
y =1
The line touches the circle at (1, 1).

(iii) Substituting y = 2 – x into the equation of the circle:

( x + 2) 2 + (2 − x − 1) 2 = 9
( x + 2) 2 + (1 − x) 2 = 9
x2 + 4 x + 4 + 1 − 2 x + x2 = 9
2x2 + 2x − 4 = 0
Substitute the x values into the
x2 + x − 2 = 0 equation of the line to find the
( x − 1)( x + 2) = 0 y-coordinates.
x = 1 or x = −2

When x = 1, y = 2 – 1 = 1
When x = –2, y = 2 – (–2) = 4

The line crosses the circle at (1, 1) and (–2, 4).

For practice in examples like the one above, try the interactive questions
Circle and line intersection.

The intersection of two curves

As before, the intersections of two curves can be found by solving the
equations of the curves simultaneously. As in Example 4, in many cases a
sensible first step is to equate the expressions for y.

Example 8
Find the coordinates of the points where the curve y = x² − 6x + 5 intersects the curve
y = −2x² + 12x − 19.
Equate the expressions for y
to give an equation in x only

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Solution
x² − 6x + 5 = −2x² + 12x − 19
⇒ 3x² − 18x + 24 = 0
⇒ x² − 6x + 8 = 0 There is a common factor of 3, so
⇒ (x − 2)(x − 4) = 0 divide by 3 before factorising.
⇒ x = 2 or x = 4

When x = 2, y = (2)² - 6(2) + 5 = −3 Substitute the x values into the

When x = 4, y = (4)² − 6(4) + 5 = −3 equation of one of the curves
(in this case the first one).
The points of intersection are (2, −3) and (4, −3).

You should check that each of these

points satisfy the equation of the
second curve. (You have already
used the equation of the first curve to
find the y-values).

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