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Circle Family

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4 views4 pages

Circle Family

Uploaded by

ykstephen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Family of circles

Created by Mr. Francis Hung Last updated: August 29, 2021


2 2
C: x + y + Dx + Ey + F = 0
L: Ax + By + C = 0
H: C + kL: x2 + y2 + (D + kA)x + (E + kB)y + F + kC = 0
If C and L intersect, the centres of the family of circles H passes through the perpendicular
bisector of C and L.

P
C
L1
GH
H
G

 D + kA E + kB 
centre of H = GH =  − ,− 
 2 2 
We shall find the locus of GH by eliminating k.
D + kA E + kB
Let x = − ,y= −
2 2
–2x – D = kA; –2y – E = kB
2x + D 2y + E
− =−
A B
2Bx – 2Ay + BD – AE = 0
This is the locus of centre of H, which is a straight line (let it be L1)
A B
slope of L × slope of L1 = − ⋅ = –1
B A
∴L ⊥ L1
Next, we shall show that the centre of C lies on L1.
 D E
Sub. the centre  − ,−  into L1
 2 2
 D  E
LHS = 2B  −  – 2A  −  + BD – AE
 2  2
= –BD + AE + BD – AE = 0 = RHS
∴L1 passes through the centre of C. (⊥ from centre bisects chord)
So, L1 is the perpendicular bisector of the intersection of C and L.

Note: If C and L does not intersect, the centre of H lie on a line L1 which is perpendicular to L
and passes through the centre of C.

C:\Users\孔德偉\Dropbox\Data\MathsData\Addmaths\Co-geometry\circle\circle_family.docx Page 1
Family of circles Created by Mr. Francis Hung

If R(x0, y0) is any point on L outside both circles C and H, then the length of tangent from R to C is
the same as the length of tangent from R to H.

P
C
H

Q D

R
Suppose tangents RE touches C at E, RD touches H at D.
RE2 = x02 + y02 + Dx0 + Ey0 + F
RD2 = x02 + y02 + (D + kA)x0 + (E + kB)y0 + F + kC
= x02 + y02 + Dx0 + Ey0 + F + k(Ax0 + By0 + C)
= x02 + y02 + Dx0 + Ey0 + F + k(0), ∵ R(x0, y0) lies on L
= RE2
∴RD = RE

Note: The result is also true even if C and L does not intersect.

L is called the radical axis of C and H.

C:\Users\孔德偉\Dropbox\Data\MathsData\Addmaths\Co-geometry\circle\circle_family.docx Page 2
Family of circles Created by Mr. Francis Hung

Given the following two different circles:


C1: x2 + y2 + D1x + E1y + F1 = 0
C2: x2 + y2 + D2x + E2y + F2 = 0
mC1 + nC2: m(x2 + y2 + D1x + E1y + F1) + n(x2 + y2 + D2x + E2y + F2) = 0
(m + n)x2 + (m + n)y2 + (mD1 + nD2)x + (mE1 + nE2)y + mF1 + nF2 = 0 .........(*)
It represents a family of circles.

C1 – C2: (D1 – D2)x + (E1 – E2)y + F1 – F2 = 0 is called the radical axis. (called it L)

(1) mC1 + nC2 is the same as C1 + kL.


Proof: Divide (*) by (m + n)
mD1 + nD2 mE1 + nE 2 mF1 + nF2
x2 + y2 + x+ y+ =0
m+n m+n m+n
mD1 + nD1 + n(D2 − D1 ) mE1 + nE1 + n(E 2 − E1 ) mF1 + nF1 + n(F2 − F1 )
x2 + y2 + x+ y+ =0
m+n m+n m+n
n(D2 − D1 ) n(E 2 − E1 ) n(F2 − F1 )
x2 + y2 + D1x + E1y + F1 + x+ y+ =0
m+n m+n m+n
n
x2 + y2 + D1x + E1y + F1 + [(D1 – D2)x + (E1 – E2)y + F1 – F2] = 0
m+n
n
which is the form C1 + kL, where k = .
m+n

(2) The radical axis passes through a line which is perpendicular to the line joining the centres
of C1 and C2.
Proof: L: (D1 – D2)x + (E1 – E2)y + F1 – F2 = 0
 D E   D E 
Centres G1  − 1 ,− 1  , G2  − 2 ,− 2 
 2 2   2 2 
E E
− 2+ 1
D1 − D2
Product of slopes = − ⋅ 2 2
E1 − E 2 D2 D1
− +
2 2
D − D2 E1 − E 2
=− 1 ⋅ = –1
E1 − E 2 D1 − D2
∴They are perpendicular.
(3) If C1 and C2 intersect at P, Q, then PQ is the radical axis.
(4) C1 + kL and C1 have the same radical axis.

C:\Users\孔德偉\Dropbox\Data\MathsData\Addmaths\Co-geometry\circle\circle_family.docx Page 3
Family of circles Created by Mr. Francis Hung

Given the following two different circles:


C1: x2 + y2 + D1x + E1y + F1 = 0
C2: x2 + y2 + D2x + E2y + F2 = 0
Suppose C1 and C2 intersect at P and Q.
Find the acute angle between the tangents of the circles.

L2
L1

θ C2
C1
P
G2

G1
Q

Suppose the centres of C1 and C2 are G1 and G2 respectively.


Suppose the radii of C1 and C2 are r1 and r2 respectively.
Suppose the distance between the centres G1 and G2 is d.
Let L1 be the tangent at P to the circle C1, let L2 be the tangent at P to the circle C2.
Let θ be the angle between L1 and L2.
G1P ⊥ L1, G2P ⊥ L2 (tangent ⊥ radius)
Consider the sum of angles at P: θ + 90° + 90° + ∠G1PG2 = 360° (∠s at a point)
θ = 180° – ∠G1PG2
By cosine formula on ∆G1PG2
r 2 + r22 − d 2
cos ∠G1PG2 = 1
2r1r2

cos θ = – cos ∠G1PG2 =


(
d 2 − r12 + r22 )
2r1r2
Note that θ may be acute or obtuse depend on cos θ > 0 or cos θ < 0.

Orthogonal circles
Two circles are orthogonal if the angle between them is 90°
In this case, r12 + r22 = G1G22.

Exercise
Show that the circles
C1: x2 + y2 – 6x = 0
C2: x2 + y2 – 8y = 0
are orthogonal.

C:\Users\孔德偉\Dropbox\Data\MathsData\Addmaths\Co-geometry\circle\circle_family.docx Page 4

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