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Build your own math worksheets from 35,000+ problems for grades 3 to 12, from fractions to AP Calculus. Every problem comes with step-by-step solutions.

Equation of a circle

Learning goals

  • Writes a circle equation from center and radius.
  • Identifies center and radius from standard form.
  • Converts suitable equations to standard form by completing squares.
  • Tests whether a point lies on, inside, or outside the circle.

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Equation of a circle 1
The unit circle has equation \(x^2+y^2=1\). Determine algebraically which of the points \(P(0.8, 0.6)\) and \(Q(1, 1)\) lies on the circle.

Hints

- A point lies on a curve when its coordinates satisfy the curve's equation. - Test the two points separately in \(x^2+y^2=1\). - Compare each resulting value with the right side of the equation.

Solution

1. Substitute \(P(0.8, 0.6)\): \((0.8)^2+(0.6)^2=0.64+0.36=1\). Therefore, \(P\) lies on the circle. 2. Substitute \(Q(1, 1)\): \(1^2+1^2=2\ne1\). Therefore, \(Q\) does not lie on the circle.

Answer

Only \(P(0.8, 0.6)\) lies on the unit circle.
Equation of a circle 2
A circle has equation \((x-4)^2+(y+3)^2=49\). State the center and radius.

Hints

- Match each squared binomial to \(x-h\) or \(y-k\). - Pay attention to the sign inside the y-binomial. - The number on the right is \(r^2\), not \(r\).

Solution

1. Compare the equation with standard form \((x-h)^2+(y-k)^2=r^2\). 2. Since \(x-4=x-h\), \(h=4\). Since \(y+3=y-(-3)\), \(k=-3\). 3. Since \(r^2=49\), the radius is \(r=7\).

Answer

Center: \((4,-3)\); radius: \(7\)
Equation of a circle 3
Write the equation of the circle with center \((-2,3)\) and radius \(4\).

Hints

- What is the standard form for a circle centered at \((h,k)\)? - Take care with the sign of a negative center coordinate.

Solution

1. Use \((x-h)^2+(y-k)^2=r^2\). 2. Substitute \(h=-2\), \(k=3\), and \(r=4\) to get \((x+2)^2+(y-3)^2=16\).

Answer

\((x+2)^2+(y-3)^2=16\)
Equation of a circle 4
Which coordinate graph, a), b), or c), represents \((x-2)^2+(y+1)^2=9\)? Explain how you know.
Figure for problem 561244

Hints

- Find the center directly from the squared terms. - Compare the distance from each graph's center to its rightmost point. - Check both center and radius before deciding.

Solution

1. The equation has center \((2,-1)\) and radius \(\sqrt{9}=3\). 2. Graph a) has that center and radius. Graph b) moves the center to \((-2,1)\); graph c) uses radius \(2\).

Answer

a), because its center is \((2,-1)\) and its radius is \(3\).
Equation of a circle 5
For the circle \(x^2+y^2=25\), classify each point as inside, on, or outside the circle: \(A(3,4)\), \(B(1,2)\), and \(C(6,0)\).

Hints

- Compare each point's squared distance from the center with the radius squared. - What does equality mean? What do smaller and larger values mean?

Solution

1. The circle has squared radius \(25\). 2. For \(A\), \(3^2+4^2=25\), so \(A\) is on the circle. 3. For \(B\), \(1^2+2^2=5<25\), so \(B\) is inside. 4. For \(C\), \(6^2+0^2=36>25\), so \(C\) is outside.

Answer

\(A\): on. \(B\): inside. \(C\): outside.
Equation of a circle 6
A circle centered at \(M(0,0)\) has radius \(5\) units. a) Write the equation of the circle. b) Use that equation to find the points where the circle intersects the x-axis. c) Use that equation to find the y-coordinates of the points on the circle whose x-coordinate is \(2\).

Hints

- How does the center-radius form simplify when the center is the origin? - What y-coordinate must an x-axis intersection have? - For part c), substitute the specified x-coordinate into the equation you wrote and keep both square roots.

Solution

1. The circle has equation \(x^2+y^2=25\). 2. On the x-axis, \(y=0\), so \(x^2=25\). Thus, the intercepts are \((5,0)\) and \((-5,0)\). 3. For \(x=2\), substitute into the equation: \(2^2+y^2=25\), so \(y^2=21\). 4. Therefore, \(y=\sqrt{21}\) or \(y=-\sqrt{21}\).

Answer

a) \(x^2+y^2=25\) b) \((5,0)\) and \((-5,0)\) c) \(y=\sqrt{21}\) and \(y=-\sqrt{21}\)
Equation of a circle 7
A circular island is modeled on a coordinate plane by a circle centered at \((0,0)\) with radius \(10\,\text{km}\). A straight power line follows \(y=5\). a) Write the equation of the island's shoreline. b) Use that circle equation to find the two points where the power line crosses the shoreline. Give exact coordinates.

Hints

- Use the center and radius to write the circle in center-radius form. - At an intersection, the point must have the power line's fixed y-coordinate and also satisfy the circle equation. - Keep both square roots when solving for \(x\).

Solution

1. The circle centered at the origin with radius \(10\) has equation \(x^2+y^2=100\). 2. At an intersection with the power line, \(y=5\). Substitute: \(x^2+5^2=100\). 3. Thus \(x^2=75\), so \(x=5\sqrt{3}\) or \(x=-5\sqrt{3}\). 4. The intersection points are \((5\sqrt{3},5)\) and \((-5\sqrt{3},5)\).

Answer

a) \(x^2+y^2=100\) b) \((5\sqrt{3},5)\) and \((-5\sqrt{3},5)\)
Equation of a circle 8
A circle passes through \(A(1,1)\), \(B(5,1)\), and \(C(1,5)\). Find its center, radius, and equation in standard form. Explain how triangle \(ABC\) helps you locate the center.

Hints

- Check whether two sides of the triangle are perpendicular. - Where is the circumcenter of a right triangle? - Once the center is known, how do you find the radius and standard equation?

Solution

1. Segments \(AB\) and \(AC\) are horizontal and vertical, so \(\angle BAC=90^\circ\). 2. The center of the circle through the three triangle vertices is the midpoint of the hypotenuse \(BC\): \(\left(\frac{5+1}{2},\frac{1+5}{2}\right)=(3,3)\). 3. The radius is the distance from \((3,3)\) to \((1,1)\), or \(\sqrt{2^2+2^2}=2\sqrt{2}\). 4. The equation is \((x-3)^2+(y-3)^2=8\).

Answer

Center: \((3,3)\). Radius: \(2\sqrt{2}\). Equation: \((x-3)^2+(y-3)^2=8\). Since \(ABC\) is right-angled at \(A\), its circumcenter is the midpoint of hypotenuse \(BC\).
Equation of a circle 9
A Ferris wheel is modeled by a circle with radius \(18\,\text{ft}\) and center \(20\,\text{ft}\) above level ground. Let \(x\) be the rider's horizontal displacement from the centerline and let \(y\) be the rider's height above the ground. a) Write the circle's equation. b) Find the rider's two horizontal positions when the rider is \(29\,\text{ft}\) above the ground.

Hints

- Use the wheel's center and radius in the standard equation of a circle. - Substitute the specified height for \(y\) before solving for the horizontal coordinate. - The two square roots represent positions on opposite sides of the vertical centerline.

Solution

1. The circle has center \((0,20)\) and radius \(18\), so its equation is \(x^2+(y-20)^2=324\). 2. At a height of \(29\,\text{ft}\), substitute \(y=29\): \(x^2+9^2=324\). 3. Thus, \(x^2=243\), so \(x=\pm9\sqrt{3}\). 4. Therefore, the rider is about \(15.6\,\text{ft}\) to either side of the centerline.

Answer

a) \(x^2+(y-20)^2=324\) b) \(x=\pm9\sqrt{3}\,\text{ft}\), approximately \(15.6\,\text{ft}\) to either side of the centerline
Equation of a circle 10
The coordinate graph shows a circle \(c\). a) Determine the circle's center and radius from the graph. b) Write the equation of \(c\) in standard form.
Figure for problem 550943

Hints

- Use the leftmost and rightmost points of the circle to locate the horizontal midpoint. - Check the highest and lowest points to locate the vertical midpoint and radius. - Once you know \((h,k)\) and \(r\), use the standard center-radius form of a circle.

Solution

1. The horizontal extremes are at \(x=-5\) and \(x=1\), so their midpoint has x-coordinate \(-2\). The vertical extremes are at \(y=-2\) and \(y=4\), so their midpoint has y-coordinate \(1\). 2. Therefore, the center is \((-2,1)\). 3. The distance from the center to any extreme point is \(3\), so the radius is \(3\). 4. Substitute \(h=-2\), \(k=1\), and \(r=3\) into \((x-h)^2+(y-k)^2=r^2\): \((x+2)^2+(y-1)^2=9\).

Answer

a) Center: \((-2,1)\); radius: \(3\) b) \((x+2)^2+(y-1)^2=9\)
Equation of a circle 11
Maya reads the equation \((x+5)^2+(y-2)^2=16\) and says, “The center is \((5,-2)\) and the radius is \(16\).” Identify both errors and give the correct center and radius.

Hints

- Rewrite each binomial mentally in the form \(x-h\) or \(y-k\). - Ask what value of \(h\) makes \(x-h=x+5\). - In standard form, what does the constant on the right represent: \(r\) or \(r^2\)?

Solution

1. Standard form is \((x-h)^2+(y-k)^2=r^2\). 2. The expression \(x+5\) is \(x-(-5)\), so the center's x-coordinate is \(-5\), not \(5\). The expression \(y-2\) gives y-coordinate \(2\), not \(-2\). 3. The right side is \(r^2=16\), so \(r=4\), not \(16\). 4. The correct center is \((-5,2)\) and the radius is \(4\).

Answer

The signs inside the binomials are opposite the center coordinates, and the right side is the radius squared. The correct center is \((-5,2)\) and the radius is \(4\).
Equation of a circle 12
The circle has equation \((x+1)^2+(y-2)^2=9\). Give the center and the four points where the graph is farthest left, right, up, and down. Explain how those points help you sketch the circle.

Hints

- Identify the center and radius from the equation. - Which coordinate changes at the farthest left and right points? - Which coordinate changes at the top and bottom points?

Solution

1. The center is \((-1,2)\), and the radius is \(3\). 2. Move three units horizontally from the center: left \((-4,2)\), right \((2,2)\). 3. Move three units vertically: top \((-1,5)\), bottom \((-1,-1)\). 4. These four points lie on the circle along the horizontal and vertical diameters and locate its outer extent.

Answer

Center: \((-1,2)\). Left: \((-4,2)\); right: \((2,2)\); top: \((-1,5)\); bottom: \((-1,-1)\). These points mark the circle's left, right, upper, and lower edges, so they guide a sketch with radius \(3\).
Equation of a circle 13
Rewrite \(x^2+y^2-4x+6y=3\) in standard circle form. State its center and radius.

Hints

- Group the terms that contain \(x\) and those that contain \(y\). - Complete each square separately and balance both sides. - Read the center only after obtaining standard form.

Solution

1. Group the variables: \((x^2-4x)+(y^2+6y)=3\). 2. Add \(4\) and \(9\) to both sides to complete the squares: \((x-2)^2+(y+3)^2=16\). 3. The center is \((2,-3)\), and the radius is \(4\).

Answer

\((x-2)^2+(y+3)^2=16\). Center: \((2,-3)\); radius: \(4\).
Equation of a circle 14
A circle has center \((-1,2)\) and passes through \(P(3,5)\). Find its radius and equation.

Hints

- What distance must every point on the circle have from the center? - Compare the x- and y-coordinates separately. - Use the distance as the radius in standard form.

Solution

1. The horizontal and vertical differences from the center to \(P\) are \(4\) and \(3\). 2. The radius is \(\sqrt{4^2+3^2}=5\). 3. Thus the equation is \((x+1)^2+(y-2)^2=25\).

Answer

Radius: \(5\). Equation: \((x+1)^2+(y-2)^2=25\).
Equation of a circle 15
The blue circle is a translation of the gray circle. Noah says it moved \(3\) units right and \(2\) units down. Correct Noah's directions and write the blue circle's equation.
Figure for problem 561249

Hints

- Find the centers by comparing the extreme points of both circles. - Which direction is negative along the x-axis? Which is positive along the y-axis? - Translate the new center coordinates into squared terms.

Solution

1. The gray circle is centered at the origin. 2. The blue circle is centered at \((-3,2)\), so it moved \(3\) units left and \(2\) units up. 3. Its standard equation is \((x+3)^2+(y-2)^2=4\).

Answer

The blue circle moved \(3\) units left and \(2\) units up. Its equation is \((x+3)^2+(y-2)^2=4\).
Equation of a circle 16
A circle has equation \((x-2)^2+(y+1)^2=16\). Classify each vertical line as a tangent, a secant, or a line that does not meet the circle: a) \(x=6\) b) \(x=0\) c) \(x=7\)

Hints

- Read the center and radius from the equation first. - A vertical line is a fixed horizontal distance from the center. - Compare that distance with the radius for each case.

Solution

1. The circle's center is \((2,-1)\), and its radius is \(4\). 2. A vertical line \(x=a\) is \(|a-2|\) units from the center. 3. The distances for a), b), and c) are \(4\), \(2\), and \(5\), respectively. 4. Distance equal to the radius means tangent, less means secant, and greater means no intersection.

Answer

a) Tangent. b) Secant. c) Does not meet the circle.
Equation of a circle 17
Find all real ordered-pair solutions that satisfy both equations: \(x^2+y^2=25\) and \((x-3)(y-4)=0\).

Hints

- Apply the zero-product property to the second equation. - Substitute each resulting fixed value into the other equation. - List each distinct ordered pair only once.

Solution

1. By the zero-product property, \(x-3=0\) or \(y-4=0\). Thus, consider the cases \(x=3\) and \(y=4\). 2. If \(x=3\), then \(9+y^2=25\), so \(y=4\) or \(y=-4\). This gives \((3,4)\) and \((3,-4)\). 3. If \(y=4\), then \(x^2+16=25\), so \(x=3\) or \(x=-3\). This gives \((3,4)\) and \((-3,4)\). 4. Remove the repeated ordered pair \((3,4)\).

Answer

\(\{(3,4),(3,-4),(-3,4)\}\)
Equation of a circle 18
Find all real ordered-pair solutions of \(\begin{cases}x^2+y^2=13\\x-y=5\end{cases}\).

Hints

- Solve the linear equation for one variable. - Substitute into the quadratic equation and expand. - Factor the resulting quadratic, then find each matching coordinate.

Solution

1. Solve the linear equation for \(x\): \(x=y+5\). 2. Substitute into the quadratic equation: \((y+5)^2+y^2=13\). 3. Expand and simplify: \(2y^2+10y+12=0\). Divide by \(2\): \(y^2+5y+6=0\). 4. Factor: \((y+2)(y+3)=0\). Thus, \(y=-2\) or \(y=-3\). 5. Using \(x=y+5\), the corresponding values are \(x=3\) and \(x=2\).

Answer

\(\{(3,-2),(2,-3)\}\)
Equation of a circle 19
Find all intersection points of the circle \(x^2+y^2=13\) and the line \(x=2y-4\).

Hints

- A point of intersection must satisfy both the circle and line equations. - One equation is already solved for a variable. What happens when you substitute it into the other? - Check each candidate point in both original equations.

Solution

1. Substitute the line equation into the circle equation: \((2y-4)^2+y^2=13\). 2. Expand and simplify: \(5y^2-16y+3=0\). 3. Factor: \((5y-1)(y-3)=0\), so \(y=\frac{1}{5}\) or \(y=3\). 4. If \(y=\frac{1}{5}\), then \(x=2\cdot\frac{1}{5}-4=-\frac{18}{5}\). If \(y=3\), then \(x=2\). 5. Both ordered pairs satisfy the original circle and line equations.

Answer

\(\left\{\left(-\frac{18}{5},\frac{1}{5}\right),(2,3)\right\}\)
Equation of a circle 20
Solve the system \(\begin{cases}x+y=1\\x^2+y^2=13\end{cases}\).

Hints

- Solve the linear equation for one variable. - Substitute into the second equation. - Factor the resulting quadratic and find each corresponding coordinate.

Solution

1. Solve the linear equation for \(y\): \(y=1-x\). 2. Substitute into the second equation: \(x^2+(1-x)^2=13\). 3. Expand and simplify: \(2x^2-2x-12=0\). Divide by \(2\): \(x^2-x-6=0\). 4. Factor: \((x-3)(x+2)=0\). Thus, \(x=3\) or \(x=-2\). 5. Using \(y=1-x\), the corresponding values are \(y=-2\) and \(y=3\).

Answer

\(\{(3,-2),(-2,3)\}\)
Equation of a circle 21
A point \(P(x,y)\) lies on the unit circle in Quadrant I. 1. Find the missing x-coordinate when \(y=0.44\). Round to the nearest thousandth. 2. Find the exact y-coordinate when \(x=\frac{3}{5}\). 3. Determine whether \(Q(0.6,0.7)\) can lie on the unit circle. Justify your answer.

Hints

- Every point on the unit circle is a distance \(1\) from the origin. - Use the Pythagorean relationship between \(x\) and \(y\). - Use the quadrant condition when choosing a square root. - A point lies on the circle only if its coordinates satisfy \(x^2+y^2=1\).

Solution

1. Use \(x^2+y^2=1\): \(x^2+0.44^2=1\), so \(x^2=0.8064\). Because \(P\) is in Quadrant I, \(x=\sqrt{0.8064}\approx0.898\). 2. Substitute \(x=\frac{3}{5}\): \(\frac{9}{25}+y^2=1\), so \(y^2=\frac{16}{25}\). In Quadrant I, \(y=\frac{4}{5}\). 3. For \(Q\), \(0.6^2+0.7^2=0.36+0.49=0.85\ne1\). Therefore, \(Q\) is not on the unit circle.

Answer

1. \(x\approx0.898\) 2. \(y=\frac{4}{5}\) 3. No, because \(0.6^2+0.7^2=0.85\ne1\).
Equation of a circle 22
A circle has equation \((x-3)^2+(y+1)^2=16\). The line \(y=1\) cuts the circle at points \(A\) and \(B\). a) Find the circle's center and radius. b) Find the length of chord \(\overline{AB}\) without first finding the coordinates of \(A\) and \(B\). c) Find the midpoint of \(\overline{AB}\) and explain why it has that position.

Hints

- Read the center and radius from the squared expressions. - How far is the horizontal chord from the center? - What right triangle can you form with a radius and half the chord?

Solution

1. The center is \(C(3,-1)\) and the radius is \(4\). 2. The line \(y=1\) is \(2\) units above the center. Its perpendicular from \(C\) meets the chord at its midpoint. 3. A right triangle formed by the radius, the distance \(2\), and half the chord gives \(\left(\frac{AB}{2}\right)^2=4^2-2^2=12\). 4. Therefore \(AB=2\sqrt{12}=4\sqrt{3}\) units. The chord midpoint lies directly above \(C\) on \(y=1\), at \((3,1)\).

Answer

a) Center \((3,-1)\); radius \(4\). b) \(AB=4\sqrt{3}\) units. c) Midpoint \((3,1)\), directly above the center because the perpendicular from a circle's center bisects a chord.
Equation of a circle 23
Two circles have equations \(x^2+y^2=64\) and \((x-4)^2+(y-4)^2=32\). a) Find the center and radius of each circle. b) Find every point where the circles intersect. Show your equation work. c) Do the intersection points form a diameter of either circle? Explain.

Hints

- Compare each equation with the standard form of a circle. - What happens to the squared terms if you compare the two equations? - Where must the midpoint of a diameter lie?

Solution

1. The first circle has center \((0,0)\) and radius \(8\). The second has center \((4,4)\) and radius \(\sqrt{32}=4\sqrt{2}\). 2. Expand the second equation: \(x^2+y^2-8x-8y+32=32\), so \(x^2+y^2=8x+8y\). 3. Using \(x^2+y^2=64\), get \(x+y=8\). Then \(y=8-x\), and substitution gives \(x^2+(8-x)^2=64\). 4. Simplifying gives \(2x(x-8)=0\), so the intersection points are \((0,8)\) and \((8,0)\). 5. Their midpoint is \((4,4)\), the center of the second circle. Thus they are endpoints of one of its diameters, but not a diameter of the first circle, whose center is \((0,0)\).

Answer

a) First circle: center \((0,0)\), radius \(8\). Second circle: center \((4,4)\), radius \(4\sqrt{2}\). b) \((0,8)\) and \((8,0)\). c) They form a diameter of the second circle only, since their midpoint is \((4,4)\).
Equation of a circle 24
Find the value of \(k\) for which \(x^2+y^2-6x+4y+k=0\) is a circle tangent to the x-axis. Give the circle's center, radius, and tangency point.

Hints

- Complete the squares to reveal the center and the radius expression. - Compare the radius with the center's perpendicular distance to the x-axis. - Locate the tangency point along that perpendicular direction.

Solution

1. Complete the squares: \((x-3)^2+(y+2)^2=13-k\). 2. The center is \((3, -2)\), whose distance from the x-axis is \(2\). 3. Tangency to the x-axis requires the radius to equal that distance, so \(r=2\) and \(r^2=4\). 4. Therefore \(13-k=4\), giving \(k=9\). 5. The tangency point lies vertically above the center at \((3, 0)\).

Answer

\(k=9\) Center: \((3, -2)\) Radius: \(2\) Tangency point: \((3, 0)\)
Equation of a circle 25
A circle has center \((h,k)\) and radius \(r>0\). A point \(P(x,y)\) lies on the circle. a) Use the Pythagorean theorem to derive the standard equation of the circle. b) Apply your result to the circle centered at \((-3,2)\) that passes through \((1,5)\). Write its equation in standard form.

Hints

- Draw horizontal and vertical legs from the center to a general point \(P(x,y)\). - Express each leg length using coordinate differences. - How is the distance from the center to every point on the circle related to \(r\)? - For part b, first determine \(r^2\) from the center and the given point.

Solution

1. From the center \((h,k)\) to \(P(x,y)\), the horizontal and vertical changes are \(x-h\) and \(y-k\). 2. These changes are the legs of a right triangle whose hypotenuse is the radius \(r\). By the Pythagorean theorem, \((x-h)^2+(y-k)^2=r^2\). 3. For the given circle, the squared radius is the squared distance from \((-3,2)\) to \((1,5)\): \(r^2=(1+3)^2+(5-2)^2=4^2+3^2=25\). 4. Substitute \(h=-3\), \(k=2\), and \(r^2=25\): \((x+3)^2+(y-2)^2=25\).

Answer

a) \((x-h)^2+(y-k)^2=r^2\) b) \((x+3)^2+(y-2)^2=25\)
Equation of a circle 26
Consider the circle given by \(x^2+y^2-6x+8y-11=0\). a) Complete the square to rewrite the equation in standard circle form. b) State the center and radius. c) Without graphing, determine whether the line \(y=2\) is a secant, a tangent, or an exterior line of the circle. If it intersects the circle, give the intersection point or points.

Hints

- Group the x-terms and y-terms before completing either square. - Whatever constants you add to create perfect-square trinomials must also be added to the other side of the equation. - After finding standard form, substitute the line's fixed y-value and count the real intersection points.

Solution

1. Move the constant term: \(x^2-6x+y^2+8y=11\). 2. Complete each square by adding \(9\) and \(16\) to both sides: \((x-3)^2+(y+4)^2=11+9+16=36\). 3. Therefore, the center is \((3,-4)\) and the radius is \(6\). 4. Substitute \(y=2\): \((x-3)^2+(2+4)^2=36\), so \((x-3)^2=0\) and \(x=3\). 5. The line has exactly one intersection point, \((3,2)\), so \(y=2\) is tangent to the circle.

Answer

a) \((x-3)^2+(y+4)^2=36\) b) Center: \((3,-4)\); radius: \(6\) c) \(y=2\) is tangent at \((3,2)\).
Equation of a circle 27
Consider the system with parameter \(c\): \(\begin{cases}x^2+y^2=25c^2\\x-y=c\end{cases}\) a) Use substitution to write a quadratic equation containing only \(y\). b) Find all ordered-pair solutions in terms of \(c\).

Hints

- Solve the linear equation for \(x\). - Substitute and expand the squared binomial. - Factor the resulting quadratic in \(y\), then find the matching \(x\)-values.

Solution

1. Solve the linear equation for \(x\): \(x=y+c\). 2. Substitute into the first equation: \((y+c)^2+y^2=25c^2\). 3. Expand and simplify: \(2y^2+2cy-24c^2=0\). Divide by \(2\): \(y^2+cy-12c^2=0\). 4. Factor: \((y-3c)(y+4c)=0\). Thus, \(y=3c\) or \(y=-4c\). 5. Using \(x=y+c\), the ordered pairs are \((4c,3c)\) and \((-3c,-4c)\). 6. When \(c=0\), these expressions represent the same ordered pair, \((0,0)\).

Answer

a) \(y^2+cy-12c^2=0\) b) For \(c\ne0\), \(\{(4c,3c),(-3c,-4c)\}\). For \(c=0\), \(\{(0,0)\}\).
Equation of a circle 28
A circle is centered at \((0,0)\) with radius \(10\). A parabola has equation \(y=\frac{1}{4}x^2+c\). a) Find the value of \(c<0\) for which the vertex of the parabola lies on the circle. b) For that value of \(c\), use substitution to find all intersection points of the circle and the parabola. Show that there are exactly three distinct points.

Hints

- Write the circle equation and identify the parabola's vertex. - Use the condition that the vertex lies on the circle. - Rewrite one equation so that \(x^2\) can be substituted into the other.

Solution

1. The circle has equation \(x^2+y^2=100\), and the parabola has vertex \((0,c)\). 2. For the vertex to lie on the circle, \(c^2=100\). Since \(c<0\), \(c=-10\). 3. The system is \(x^2+y^2=100\) and \(y=\frac{1}{4}x^2-10\). Rewrite the second equation as \(x^2=4y+40\). 4. Substitute into the circle equation: \(4y+40+y^2=100\), so \(y^2+4y-60=0\). 5. Factor: \((y+10)(y-6)=0\). Thus, \(y=-10\) or \(y=6\). 6. When \(y=-10\), \(x^2=0\), giving \((0,-10)\). When \(y=6\), \(x^2=64\), giving \((8,6)\) and \((-8,6)\).

Answer

a) \(c=-10\) b) \(\{(0,-10),(8,6),(-8,6)\}\)
Equation of a circle 29
A circle is tangent to both coordinate axes, its center is in Quadrant I, and it passes through \(P(4,2)\). Find all possible circle equations in standard form. Why are there two?

Hints

- What must the center's two coordinates be if the circle touches both axes? - Write the equation using just the radius as an unknown. - Check whether each possible radius puts the center in Quadrant I.

Solution

1. If the radius is \(r>0\), tangency to both axes means the center is \((r,r)\). 2. Point \(P\) lies on the circle, so \((4-r)^2+(2-r)^2=r^2\). 3. Simplifying gives \(r^2-12r+20=0\), or \((r-2)(r-10)=0\). 4. Both \(r=2\) and \(r=10\) are positive. Each gives a center in Quadrant I and a circle through \(P\). 5. Their equations are \((x-2)^2+(y-2)^2=4\) and \((x-10)^2+(y-10)^2=100\).

Answer

\((x-2)^2+(y-2)^2=4\) \((x-10)^2+(y-10)^2=100\) Both circles have positive radii and centers \((r,r)\), and both pass through \(P(4,2)\).

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