Circles

Definition of Circle
Locus of a point in a plane whose distance from a fixed point (called
centre) is always constant (called radius).

C(a, b)
Equation of Circle
Equation of Circle

Equation of circle whose centre is (a, b) and radius = r is given by

Equation of circle whose centre is (0, 0)

and radius = r is given by
C(a, b)
General Equation of Circle
General Equation of Circle

C(a, b)
Find the centre & radius of the circle whose equation is
1) x2 + y2 - 4x + 6y + 12 = 0

1) x2 + y2 - 2x - 4y - 20 = 0
For the four circles M, N, O and P, following four equations are given :
Circle M : x2 + y2 = 1
Circle N : x2 + y2 - 2x = 0
Circle O : x2 + y2 - 2x - 2y + 1 = 0
Circle P : x2 + y2 - 2y = 0
If the centre of circle M is joined with centre of the circle N, further
centre of circle N is joined with centre of the circle O, centre of circle O
is joined with the centre of circle P and lastly, centre of circle P is joined
with centre of circle M, then these lines from the sides of a :

A. Rhombus

B. Square

C. Rectangle

D. Parallelogram
The diameter of the circle, whose centre lies on the line x + y = 2 in the first
quadrant and which touches both the lines x = 3 and y = 2, is ____
If the area of an equilateral triangle inscribed in the circle,
x2 + y2 + 10x + 12y + c = 0 is 27√3 sq. units then c is equal to :

A. 13

B. 20

C. -25

D. 25
Equation of Circle if 3 Points are Given

(x2, y2)

(x1, y1)
(x3, y3)
JEE Adv. 2021
Equation of Circle in Diameter Form

(x2, y2)

(x1, y1)
Find the equation of the circle, the coordinates of the end points of
whose diameter are (-1, 2) and (4, -3)
Intercepts made
by Circle
Intercepts made by circle on the axes:
A circle touching the x-axis at (3, 0) and making an intercept of length 8
on the y-axis through the point :

A. (3, 10)

B. (3, 5)

C. (2, 3)

D. (1, 5)
 Parametric
Coordinates of
Circle
Parametric Coordinates of Circle
Let A(1, 4) and B(1, -5) be two points. Let P be a point on the circle (x - 1)2 +
(y - 1)2 = 1 such that (PA)2 + (PB)2 have maximum value, then the points P, A
and B lie on :

A. A parabola

B. A straight line

C. A hyperbola

D. A ellipse
 Parametric Coordinates of endpoint of Diameter

(r cos𝜃, r sin𝜃)

C (0, 0)

(- r cos𝜃, - r sin𝜃)
Let PQ be a diameter of the circle x2 + y2 = 9. If α and β are the lengths of
the perpendiculars from P and Q on the straight line, x + y = 2 respectively,
then the maximum value of αβ is _
Position of Point
w.r.t Circle
Position of Point w.r.t. Circle: Method 1
Position of Point w.r.t. Circle: Method 2
Line and Circle
Line and Circle: Method 1
Line and Circle: Method 2
For what value of c will the line y = 2x + c be tangent to the circle
x2 + y2 = 5 ?
The number of integral values of k for which the line, 3x + 4y = k
intersects the circle, x2 + y2 - 2x - 4y + 4 = 0 at two distinct points is _
Equation of
Tangent
Equation of Tangent to the circle:

1. Point Form
2. Parametric Form
3. Slope Form
Equation of Tangent : Point Form
T=0
Find the equation of the tangent to the circle x2 + y2 - 30x + 6y + 109 = 0
at (4, -1).
Equation of Tangent : Parametric Form

The equation of a tangent to circle x2 + y2 = a2 at (a cos α, a sin α) is

x cos α + y sin α = a
Equation of Tangent : Slope Form
Find the equation of the tangents to the circle x2 + y2 - 6x + 4y - 12 = 0
which are parallel to the line 4x + 3y + 5 = 0
The line 2x - y + 1 = 0 is a tangent to the circle at the point (2,5) and the
centre of the circle lies on x - 2y = 4. Then, the radius of the circle is :

A. 3√5

B. 5√3

C. 5√4

D. 4√5
If a line, y = mx + c is a tangent to the circle, (x - 3)2 + y2 = 1 and it is

perpendicular to a line L1, where L1 is the tangent to the circle, x2 + y2 =

1 at the point ; then :

A. c2 - 7c + 6 = 0

B. c2 + 7c + 6 = 0

C. c2 + 6c + 7 = 0

D. c2 - 6c + 7 = 0
Equation of
Normal
Equation of Normal
Find the equation of the normal to the circle x2 + y2 – 2x – 4y + 3 = 0 at
the point (2, 3)
The tangent and the normal lines at the point (√3, 1) to the circle x2 + y2 = 4 and
the x - axis form a triangle. The area of this triangle (in square units) is :

A. 4 / √3

B. 1/3

C. 2 / √3

D. 1 / √3
Length of Tangent
and Power of
Point
Length of tangent from external point

P (x1, y1)
Power of Point

P (x1, y1)

Power of a point P is positive, negative

or zero according as the point ‘A’ is
outside, inside or on the circle
respectively.
 Power of Point

P (x1, y1)
Find the length of the tangent drawn from the point (5, 1) to the circle
x2 + y2 + 6x - 4y - 3 = 0
Let the tangents drawn from the origin to the circle,
x2 + y2 - 8x - 4y + 16 = 0 touch it at the points A and B. The (AB)2 is equal to :

A. 52/5

B. 56/5

C. 64/5

D. 32/5 P (0, 0)
Director Circle
Director Circle
Locus of a point from where two perpendicular tangents can be drawn
to the circle
Director Circle
Find the equation of director circle of the circle (x - 2)2 + (y + 1)2 = 2
Tangents from
External Point
Tangents from External Point

Find the equation of both the tangents drawn to the circle

x2 + y2 - 2x + 4y = 0 from the point (0, 1)
 Important Note
Circumcircle of ΔPAB will definitely pass through O

O
P

B
1. Pair of Tangents
2. Chord of Contact
3. Chord if Midpoint is given
Valid for all Conic
Pair of Tangents

Chord of Contact

Chord if Midpoint is given

Find the equation of pair of tangents from (7, 1) to the circle
x2 + y2 = 25.
Chord of Circle
Chord of Circle
If one of the diameters of the circle x2 + y2 - 2x - 6y + 6 = 0 is a chord of
another circle ‘ C’ whose center is at (2, 1), then its radius is
In the circle given below, let OA = 1 unit, OB = 13 unit and PQ ⊥ OB.
Then, the area of triangle PQB (in square units) is :

A. 26√3

B. 24√2

C. 24√3

D. 26√2
If the length of the chord of the circle, x2 + y2 = r2 (r>0) along the line, y
- 2x = 3 is r, then r2 is equal to :

A. 9/5

B. 12

C. 24/5

D. 12/5
 Number of
Common Tangents
Common Tangents to Two Circles
Common Tangents to Two Circles
Choose the incorrect statement about the two circles whose equations are given
below :
x2 + y2 - 10x - 10y + 41 = 0 and x2 + y2 - 16x - 10y + 80 = 0

A. Distance between two centres is the average of radii of both the circles.

B. Both circles’ centres lie inside region of one another.

C. Both circles pass through the centre of each other.

D. Circles have two intersection points.

The minimum distance between any two points P1 and P2 while
considering point P1 on one circle and point P2 on the other circle for
the given circles’ equations

x2 + y2 - 10x - 10y + 41 = 0
x2 + y2 - 24x - 10y + 160 = 0 is __.
Choose the correct statement about two circles whose equations are
given below :
x2 + y2 - 10x - 10y + 41 = 0
x2 + y2 - 22x - 10y + 137 = 0

A. Circles have same centre

B. Circles have no meeting point

C. Circles have only one meeting point

D. Circles have two meeting points

If the circles x2 + y2 - 16x - 20y + 164 = r2 and (x - 4)2 + (y - 7)2 = 36
intersect at two distinct points, then :

A. r > 11

B. 0<r<1

C. r = 11

D. 1 < r < 11
Angle Between
Two Circles
Angle between two circles
Orthogonality of
two Circles
Orthogonality of two circles
For what value of k the circles x2 + y2 + 5x + 3y + 7 = 0 and
x2 + y2 - 8x + 6y + k = 0 cut orthogonally.
If the angle of intersection at a point where the two circles with
radii 5 cm and 12 cm intersect is 90o , then the length (in cm) of their
common chord is :

A. 13/5

B. 120/13

C. 60/13

D. 13/2
The C1 and C2 be the centres of the circles x2 + y2 - 2x - 2y - 2 = 0 and x2 + y2 - 6x -
6y + 14 = 0 respectively. If P and Q are the points of intersection of these circles
then, the area (in sq. units) of the quadrilateral PC1QC2 is :

A. 8

B. 6

C. 9

D. 4
Radical Axis and
Radical Center
Orthogonality of two circles
The radical axis is the locus of points from which length of tangent to two
circles are equal.

The equation of radical axis of the two circles is given by S1 - S2 = 0

Note :

(i) If two circles intersect, then the radical axis is the common chord
of the two circles.
(ii) If two circles touch each other, then the radical axis is the
common tangent of the two circles.
(iii) Radical axis is always perpendicular to the line joining the centres
of the two circles.
(iv) Radical axis will pass through the mid point of the line joining the
centres of the two circles only if the two circles have equal radii.
(v) Radical axis bisects a common tangent between the two circles.
Note:
The common tangent to the circles x2 + y2 = 4 and x2 + y2 + 6x + 8y – 24 =
0 also passes through the point:

A. (4, -2)
JEE Main 2021
B. (-6, 4)

C. (6, -2)

D. (-4, 6)
If the circles x2 + y2 + 5Kx + 2y + K = 0 and 2 (x2+y2) + 2Kx + 3y – 1=0, (K∈ R),
intersect at the points P and Q, then the line 4x + 5y - K = 0 passes through P and
Q,for : JEE Main 2021
A. infinitely many values of K

B. no value of K

C. exactly two values of K

D. exactly one value of K

Family of Circles
Family of Circles

Case 1:
The equation of the family of circles passing through the points of
intersection of two circles S1 = 0 & S2 = 0 is : S1 + λS2 = 0
Family of Circles

Case 2:
The equation of the family of circles passing through the point of
intersection a circle S = 0 & a line L = 0 is given by S + λL = 0
Family of Circles

Case 3:
The equation of a family of circles passing through two given points
(x1, y1) & (x2, y2) can be written in the form :
Family of Circles

Case 4:
The equation of a family of circles touching a fixed line ax+by+c=0 at
the fixed point (x1, y1) is (x - x1)2 + (y - y1)2 + λ(ax+by+c) = 0, where K is
a parameter.
The circle passing through the intersection of the circles, x2 + y2 - 6x = 0
and x2 + y2 - 4y = 0, having its centre on the line, 2x - 3y + 12 = 0, also
passes through the point :

A. (-1, 3)

B. (-3, 6) JEE Main 2021

C. (-3, 1)

D. (1, -3)
The line x = y touches a circle at the point (1, 1). If the circle also passes through
the point (1, -3), then its radius is :

A. 3 JEE Main 2021

B. 2√2

C. 2

D. 3√2
A circle touches the y - axis at the point (0, 4) and passes through the point (2, 0).
Which of the following lines is not a tangent to this circle ?

A. 4x - 3y + 17 = 0 JEE Main 2021

B. 3x - 4y - 24 = 0

C. 3x + 4y - 6 = 0

D. 4x + 3y - 8 = 0