THEORY & SOLVED EXAMPLE(A)

CIRCLES
The circle is a locus of a point which is always at a fixed distance from a fixed point. The fixed
point is called centre of the circle the fixed distance is called radius of the circle.
i) The equation of a circle whose centre is (h, k) and whose radius is r, is
(x h)
2
+ (y k)
2
= r
2
. n particular the equation of a circle whose centre is ori!in is x
2
+
y
2
= r
2
ii) f a circle touches x"axis then a#solute $alue of ordinate of the centre must #e equal to
the radius i.e. %k% = r. &imilarly if it touches x"axis i.e., %h% = r and if it touches #oth x and
y"axis then %h% = %k% = r 'or example the circles
2 2
( 5) ( 5) 25 x y + = (four com#inations) touch x"axis and y"axis
iii) The equation & = x
2
+ y
2
+ 2!x + 2fy + c = ( also represents a circle with centre as (!,
f) and radius as
2 2
g + f - c
pro$ided !
2
+ f
2
c > (. This is called !eneral equation of
the circle.
i$) f we put the co"ordinates of a point )(x*, y*) in the equation of the circle & = ( then we
!et a numerical quantity
2 2
1 1 1 1
2 2 x y gx fy c + + + + . +e denote it #y &*
a) f &* > (, the point ) lies outside the circle & = ( and &* represents square of the
len!th of the tan!ent from )(x*, y*) to the circle & = (.
#) f &* = (, the point ) lies on the circle. c) f &* < (, the point ) lies
inside the circle
$) The chord len!ths intercepted #y the circle & = ( on x and y"axis are
2
2 g c
and
2
2 f c
respecti$ely.
MAJOR RESULTS
i) The line y = mx + c will #e a tan!ent to the circle x
2
+ y
2
= a
2
if c
2
= a
2
(* + m
2
). f this is
satisfied the line will touch the circle x
2
+ y
2
= a
2
at the point
2 2
,
a m a
c c

.
Thus the line y = mx a
2
1 m +
will #e a tan!ent to the circle
x
2
+ y
2
= a
2
for all $alues of m.
ii) The equation of tan!ent at (x*, y*) of the circle & = ( is T = ( where
T = xx* + yy* + !(x + x*) + f(y + y2) + c = (. n particular the equation of tan!ent at (x*,y*)
of the circle x
2
+ y
2
= a
2
is xx* + yy* = a
2
.
iii) f from )(x*, y*) tan!ents ), and )- are drawn to the circle & = ( then equation of the
chord of contact ,- is T = (. n the case of the circle x
2
+ y
2
= a
2
the equation of chord of
contact will #e xx* + yy* = a
2
.
1
i$) The equation of pair of tan!ents drawn from an external point )(x*, y*) to the circle & = (
is &&* = T
2
+e can also find equation of tan!ents #y the followin! method.
a) Take any line throu!h )(x*, y*) #y usin! a parameter m
#) f the line is a tan!ent to the circle the perpendicular distance of the centre of the
circle to the line will #e equal to the radius of the circle. This will lead to a
quadratic equation (or de!enerated quadratic equation) in the parameter.
$) f the circles & = (, & = ( intersect in real point the equation of their common chord is &
& = (. f they touch the same equation represent one of the common tan!ents of
them. n case they do not intersect the equation & & = ( represents their radical axis.
The radical axis of two circles is define as locus of points from which len!ths of tan!ents
drawn to the two circles are equal. The radical axis is perpendicular to the line .oinin! the
centres of the circles. The radical axis of three circles taken pair wise are concurrent or
are parallel.
$i) The equation of circles passin! throu!h the intersection of the two circles & = (,
& = ( is of the form & + & = ( pro$ided *. The equation of circles passin!
throu!h the intersection of the circle & = ( and the line / = ( is of the form
& + / = (.
$ii) The equation of circles passin! throu!h two !i$en points ,(x*, y*) and -(x2, y2) must #e
put in the form (x x*) (x x2) + (y y*) (y y2) +
1 1
2 2
1
1 0
1
x y
x y
x y
= note that the circle
whose diameter is the line ,- corresponds to = (.
$iii) The equation of circles touchin! the lines / = ( at (x*, y*) is of the form
(x x*)
2
+ (y y*)
2
+ / = ( since (x x*)
2
+ (y y*)
2
= (, can #e taken as a point circle.
ix) Two circles & = (, & = ( are said to #e ortho!onal if at their point of intersection
tan!ents drawn to them are perpendicular. The condition for ortho!onal intersection of
two circle & = (, & = ( is 2!! + 2ff = c + c.
POSITION OF TWO CIRCLES
/et 0* and 02 #e two circles with radii as r* and r2 with r* > r2. f d #e the distance #etween their
centres then followin! condition descri#e position of two circles
i) f d < r* r2 then 02 is completely contained in 0* ii) f d = r* r2 then 02 touches 0*
internally.
iii) f r* r2 < d < r* + r2 then 0* and 02 cut at two real points.
2
i$) f d = r* + r2 then 0* and 02 touch externally $) f d > r* + r2 then the two circles do
not touch
COMMON TANGENTS
Two circles can ha$e a num#er of common tan!ents. This num#er can $ary from ( to 1.
i) f d > r* + r2 then there are four common tan!ents whose len!ths are
2 2
1 2
( ) d r r
(len!th of 2irect common tan!ents) and
2
1 2
( ) d r r + (len!th trans$erse common
tan!ents).
ii) The equations of common tan!ents can #e o#tained #y findin! the points of intersections
) of tan!ents usin! external and internal di$ision formula since if the common tan!ents
of the same type touch circles at T* and T2 and meet at ). Then
1 1 1 1
2 2 2 2
PC C T r
PC C T r
= =
.
Standard R!"#t! and I$%&rtant T'%!
i) The co"ordinates of any point on the circle x
2
+ y
2
= r
2
may #e taken as
(r cos , r sin ) which are called parametric co"ordinates. The parametric equation of
the circle is !i$en #y
x = r cos , y = r sin . The parametric equation of the circle (x h)
2
+ (y k)
2

= r
2
is x = h + r cos , y = k + r sin where is the parameter.
ii) The !eneral equation of second de!ree ax
2
+ #y
2
+ 2hxy + 2!x + 2fy + c = ( will
represent circle if a = # and h = (.
iii) /ines ax + #y + c =(, ax + #y + c = ( will cut axes in concylic points if
aa = ##
iv) The equation of the circumcircle circumscri#in! the trian!le the equation of whose sides
are /* = (, /2 = (, /3 = ( must #e of the form /*/2 + /2/3 + /3/* = (.
SOLVED EXAMPLES ( CONVENTIONAL )
1. Tan!ents PA and PB are drawn from ( ) 1, 2 P to the circle
2 2
2 4 2 0 x y x y + + =
(i) find the len!th PA ( or PB )
(ii) find the area of PAB
(iii) find the equation of PA and PB
SOL :- (i)
2
PA
or
2
PB
= $alue of circles equation for 1 x = and
2 y =
3
1 4 2 8 2 1 = + + + =
1 PA PB = = .
(ii) 4quation of chord of contact AB must #e
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 0 x y x y + + + = or 2 1 0 x + =
5ow PM =distance of ( ) 1, 2 P from
( )
2 2
2 1 1
1
2
2 0
AB
+
= =
+
2 2
1 3
1
4 2
AM PA PM = = =
,rea of
1
2
PAB = #ase. 6ei!ht
3 1 3
2 2 4
= = square units.
(iii) 4quation of any line throu!h ( ) 1, 2 P is ( ) 2 1 y m x = + or 2 0 y mx m =
f this happens to #e tan!ent to the !i$en circle the len!th from the centre
( ) 1, 2 on the line must #e equal to the radius 3
2
2 2
3
1
m m
m

=
+
2 2
4 3 3 m m = + 3 m =
Thus the equation of tan!ents PA and PB are ( ) 2 3 1 y x = + and ( ) 2 3 1 y x = +
NOTE :- )art (iii) can also #e done #y usin!
2
1
SS T =
+e already know the $alues of
1
S and T in this pro#lem.
1
1 S = ( ( )
2
length Q of PA or PB )
2 1 T x = + ( equation of chord of contact )
Therefore com#ined equation of PA and PB is
( ) ( )
2
2 2
2 4 2 .1 2 1 x y x y x + + = + or
2 2
3 6 4 1 0 x y x y + + =
/et
( ) ( )
2 2
1 2
3 6 4 1 3 3 y x x y y x C y x C + = + + (**)
7n comparin! coeff of
, x y
and constant terms , we !et
2 1
6 3 3, C C =
2 1
4 , C C =
1 2
1 C C =
7n sol$in! first two we !et
1 2
2 3, 2 3 C C = = + ,
4
These $alues satisfy the third equation
1 2
1 C C = The assumption 88 is .ustified
/ines are 3 2 3 y x = + + and 3 2 3 y x = + .
2. The circle
2 2
1
: 2 4 0 C x y x y + = and
2 2
2
: 6 8 9 0 C x y x y + + + = intersect at Aand
B .
(i) 'ind the len!th of the common chord AB .
(ii) f tan!ents are drawn to the circle
1
C at Aand B find the intersection points of
these tan!ents.
SOL :- The pro#lem can #e done #y findin! the coordinates of Aand B . The coordinates of A
and B can #e found #y simultaneously sol$in! the equation
1
C and
2
C . ( 7n su#tractin! , we
!et 8 4 9 0 x y + = put
8 9
4
x
y
+
= in one of the equation etc. )
The student is supposed to know the method of doin! this pro#lem without findin! the
coordinates of Aand B .
(i) 7n su#tractin! the equations of
1
C and
2
C we !et equation of common chord AB
as
8 4 9 0 x y + =
(A)
5ow len!th of the from the centre ( ) 1, 2 of
1
C to the common chord
8 8 9 9
64 16 80
+
= =
+
,lso radius of
1
5 C =
6alf of chord
81 319
5 2
80 80
AB = =
/en!th of
319
2
80
AB =
(ii) f the tan!ents drawn at Aof
1
C intersect at ( ) , then AB is chord of contact of
1
C
4quation AB is ( ) ( ) 1 2 0 x y x y + + + =
7r ( ) ( ) ( ) 1 2 2 0 x y + + = (B)
&ince (,) and (-) are same lines
1 2 2
8 6 9
+
= =

5
'rom which easily !et 7, 8 = = . Thus tan!ents intersect at ( ) 7,8 .
3. 'ind all the common tan!ents to the circle
2 2
1
: 22 4 100 0 C x y x y + + = and
2 2
2
: 22 4 100 0 C x y x y + + + = . 'ind their len!ths also.
SOL :- (
1
C and
2
C will also denote the centre of the two circles )
+e first o#ser$e that if direct common tan!ents meets
of P then
1 2
C C P is a strai!ht line and
1 1
2 2
C P r
C P r
=
.
ndeed
0
2
90 PC L = ( )
0
2
90 C LP = Q
.
n quadrilateral
0 0 0
1 2 2 1 1 2
90 , 90 , 90 C C LN C LN LNC NCC = = =
0
1 2
90 C C L = +
0 0
1 2
90 90 C C L = + +
0
80
1 2
C C P is a strai!ht
line.
The second result follows from similar trian!les.
5ow
1
C is ( )
1
11, 2 , 15 r = and
2
C is ( )
2
11, 2 , 5 r =
&ince P lies externally . The coordinates of P are
( ) ( ) 15 11 5 11 15 2 5 2
,
15 5 15 5
x x x



i.e. P is ( ) 22, 4
,ny line throu!h ( ) 22, 4 may #e taken as ( ) 4 22 y m x + = or 4 22 0 y mx m + + =
2
2 11 4 22
5
1
m m
m
+ +
=
+
7 3
,
24 4
m =
The direct common tan!ents are ( )
7
4 22
24
y x + = and ( )
3
4 22
4
y x + =
7r 7 24 250 x y = and 3 4 50 x y + = (*)
,!ain for trans$erse common tan!ents, we note that common tan!ent NL is intersected
#y
1 2
CC at P and
1 1
2 2
15
5
C P r
C P r
= =

P is
( ) ( ) 15 11 5 11 15 2 5 2
,
15 5 15 5
x x x + +

+ +

i.e. P is
11
, 1
2

6
5ow any line throu!h
11
, 1
2

may #e taken as
11
1
2
y m x

+ =


,s #efore we !et
24
7
m = or
4
3
Trans$erse common tan!ents are
24 11
1
7 2
y x

+ =


and
4 11
1
3 2
y x

+ =


7r 24 7 125 x y + = or 4 3 25 x y =
f we take one of the common tan!ents from (8) and sol$e it with
1
C and
2
C , we !et the
point of contact of common tan!ents with
1
C and
2
C . The distance #etween the points
of contact will #e the len!th of the direct common tan!ent. -ut the len!ths can #e found without
findin! these points and without findin! the equation of common tan!ents. ndeed len!th of the
direct common tan!ents
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 2 2 2
2
1 2
11 11 2 2 15 5 400 20 d r r = = + + = = . The
len!th of the trans$erse common tan!ent
( )
2
2
1 2
10 d r r = =
.
4. 'ind the equations of the circles tan!ent to the lines
3 4 35 0 x y + =
and
4 3 14 0 x y + + =
and passin! throu!h ( ) 1, 5 .
SOL :- /et ( ) , h k #e centre of a circle which touch #oth the lines and which passes throu!h the
point ( ) 1, 5 then ( ) , h k must satisfy the equation of an!ular #isector of the !i$en lines
#isectin! the an!le containin! the point ( ) 1, 5 . 5ow we note that ori!in and ( ) 1, 5 are
contained in the same an!le formed #y the two !i$en lines ( #oth ori!in and ( ) 1, 5 are on
the same side of #oth the lines ) Therefore ( ) , h k must satisfy the equation of an!ular
#isector #isectin! the an!le containin! ori!in i.e.
3 4 35 4 3 14
5 5
h k h k + + +
= + or 3 h k + =
(i)
The equation of required circle must #e of the form
( ) ( )
2
2 4 3 14
2
5
h k
x h h y k
+ +
+ =


(ii)
( Q radius =distance of ( ) , h k from one of the lines )
&ince circle (ii) pas throu!h the point ( ) 1, 5 , we must ha$e
( ) ( )
2
2 2 4 3 14
1 5
5
h k
h k
+ +
+ =


(iii)
7n puttin! 3 k h = in (iii) , we !et
2
49 104 404 0 h h + =
7
202
2,
49
h = whence correspondin! $alues of k are 1and
349
49
Thus required circle are
( ) ( )
2 2 2
2 2 202 349 185
2 1 25,
49 49 49
x y x y

+ = + +


.
5. 'ind all circle touchin! the coordinate axes and the line 3 4 24 0 x y + =
SOL :- f centre of such a circle lies in the first quadrant it must #e of the form ( ) , r r where 0 r >
( since circle touch #oth axes ) and dist. 'rom ( ) , r r on the line 3 4 24 0 x y + = should
also #e equal to
3 4 24
5
r r
r r
+

+ and si!n yield 12 r = and 2 r = respecti$ely .
Two circles touchin! axes and the line
3 4 24 0 x y + =
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 2 2 2
2
12 12 12, 2 2 2 x y x y + = + =
,!ain the centre of a circle ha$in! centre in the second quadrant and touchin! axes and
the !i$en line must #e ( ) ( ) , 0 r r r > and
3 4 24
5
r r
r
+
=
+ si!n yields 6 r = which is inadmissi#le si!n yields
4 r =
Thus another circle touchin! axes and the !i$en line is
( ) ( )
2 2
2
4 4 4 x y + + = .
n the third quadrant
3 4 24
5
r r
r

=
-oth $alues of r come out to #e ne!ati$e.
n the fourth quadrant
3 4 24
5
r r
r

=
6 r = ( -y takin! si!n ) 0ircle is ( ) ( )
2 2
2
6 6 6 x y + + = .
6. )ro$e that the two circle throu!h ( ) ( ) 0, , 0, a a which touch the lines
y mx c = +
will cut
ortho!onally if ( )
2 2 2
2 c a m = +
.
SOL :- ,ll circles throu!h ( ) 0, a and ( ) 0, a may #e taken as
8
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
1
0 0 0 1 0
0 1
x y
x x y a y a a
a
+ + + =

7r
2 2 2
2 0 x y ax a + + = (i)
0hoose two $alues of fro two circles represented #y (i), then
2 2 2
1
2 0 x y a x a + + = and
2 2 2
2
2 0 x y a x a + + =
&ince these circles are ortho!onal
2 2 gg ff c c + = +
( ) ( )
2 2
1 2
2 a a a a =
1 2
1 =
5ow since circles (i) ( centre ( ) , 0 a , radius
2 2 2
a a = +
) touch 0 y mx c =
+e must ha$e
2 2 2
2
1
am c
a a
m

= +

7n squarin! and arran!in! this #ecomes ( )

2 2 2 2 2 2
2 0 a a mc a m a c + + + =
The roots of this equations must #e
1
and
2
and
1 2

= )roduct of the roots
2 2 2 2
2
a m a c
a

=
-ut
1 2
1 =
2 2 2 2
2
1
a m a c
a
+
= ( )
2 2 2
2 c a m = +
7. &how that the circle circumscri#in! the trian!le whose sides are
cos sin sec sin x y a b + = + , cos sin sec sin x y a b + = +
cos sin sec sin x y a b + = + passes throu!h the point ( ) 0, b .
SOL :- The equation of a conic circumscri#in! the trian!le must #e of the form
( ) ( ) cos sin sec sin cos sin sec sin x y a b x y a b + +
( ) ( ) cos sin sec sin cos sin sec sin x y a b x y a b + + +
( ) ( ) cos sin sec sin cos sin sec sin 0 x y a b x y a b + + + = (i)
&ince this represents a circle
coeff of
2
x = coeff of
2
y (ii)
9
coeff of 0 xy = (iii)
(ii) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) cos cos cos cos cos cos sin sin sin sin sin sin + + = + +
( ) ( ) ( ) cos cos cos 0 + + + + + = (iv)
(iii) ( ) ( ) ( ) sin sin 0 + + + + + = (v)
&ol$in! (i$) and ($) for and

, we !et
( ) ( ) ( )
1
sin sin sin


= =

( )
( )
( )
( )
sin sin
,
sin sin




= =

5ow the circle (i) will pass throu!h ( ) 0, b
f ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) sec sec sec sec sec sec 0 a a a a a a + + =
+hich is equi$alent to cos cos cos 0 + + = (vii)
To pro$e ($ii) it is sufficient to show
( )
( )
( )
( )
sin sin
cos cos cos 0
sin sin




+ + =

+hich is indeed true in the li!ht of 0 2 formulas.
. Two rods of len!th
a
and b slide alon! the axes in a manner that their ends are always
concyclic. )ro$e that locus of centre of the circle passin! throu!h these ends is the
cur$e ( )
2 2 2 2
4 x y a b = .
SOL :- /et the centre of the $aria#le circle #e ( ) , and its equation
#e
2 2
2 2 0 x yx y + + = where is a parameter. Then
AA = 0hord len!th intercepted on x"axis
2 2
2 2 g c = =
-ut AA = /en!th of the rod =
a
2
2 a =
, similarly
2
2 b = .
The required locus must #e eliminate of these equations.
7n squarin! and su#tractin!, we easily !et ( )
2 2 2 2
4 a b =
10
!. Aray is drawn from ori!in to cut the !i$en circle ( )
2 2
2 0 x y a x a + = > at B . 'rom B
equal se!ment BM and BN of constant len!th b are laid of in either direction. ,s the ray
re$ol$es the points M and N descri#e a cur$e ( limacon of )ascal ). 'ind its equation.
SOL :- /et
y mx =
#e any ray B drawn from then for B we sol$e
y mx =
and
2 2
2 0 x y a x + = . +e easily !et
2 2
2 2
,
1 1
a am
x y
m m
= =
+ +
/et us now put equation of B in parametric from with respect to point B ( since M and
N are situated at a distance b from B ).
ndeed equation of B is
2 2
2 2
1 1
am a
y m x
m m

=

+ +

7r
2 2
2 2
2 2
1 1
1/ 1 / 1
a am
x y
m m
m m m

+ +
=
+ +
'or the points M and N we can equate to
b
and the squared result will #e satisfied #y
#oth M and N . Takin! first expression equal to b and on squarin!, we !et

2
2
2 2
2
1 1
a b
x
m m

=

+ +

-ut M and N satisfy the simple relation
y mx =
( since they lie on B ).
Therefore on puttin!
y
m
x
= m, we !et a pure relation #etween a#scissa and coordinates
of M (or N ) as
2
2
2 2
2 2
2
1 1
a b
x
y y
x x


=

+ +


which easily simplifies to
( ) ( )
2
2 2 2 2 2
2 x y ax b x y + = +
and which is the equation of limacon of )ascal.
11