Circles

Q1.
A circle passes through the points P(0, 2), Q(0, 8), and R(9, 11) as shown in the
diagram.

Not drawn to scale

(a) The perpendicular bisector of the chord QR has equation y = 23 − 3x

Find the coordinates of the centre of the circle.

(2)

(b) Find the equation of the circle, giving your answer in the form

(x − d)2 + (y − e)2 = k

where d, e and k are positive integers.

(3)

(c) Find the equation of the tangent to the circle at R

Give your answer in the form x + by = c where b and c are integers.

(3)
(Total 8 marks)
Q2.
Find all of the possible values of the constant k for which

x2 + y2 + 10x − 14y + k2 + 10 = 0
is the equation of a circle.
(Total 4 marks)
Q3.
The diagram below shows the circle C1

The centre of C1 has coordinates (4, 1)

The chord PQ has length 2√17

(a) The shortest distance between the chord PQ and the centre of C1 is

Find the equation of C1, giving your answer in the form

(x – a)2 + (y – b)2 = k
(4)

(b) C2 is a different circle.

&
The translation %'( ) maps C2 onto the original circle C1

Find the equation of C2

(2)

(c) Jane claims that she has found the equation of a circle which is a
translation of C1

The equation of her circle is

x2 – 12x + y2 – 4y + 2 = 0
Explain whether or not Jane is correct.
(4)
(Total 10 marks)
Q4.
The diagram shows the circle C1 and triangle PQR.
The points P, Q and R lie on C1, where P has coordinates (1, 5) and R has
coordinates (5, −3).
The lengths PQ = , PR = , and QR =

(a) Show that PR is a diameter of C1

(3)

(b) Find an equation of the tangent to C1 at P.

(3)

(c) A second circle, C2 has equation (x – 9)2 + (y – 9)2 = 5

The circles C1 and C2 do not intersect.

The point S lies on C1 and the point T lies on C2

Find the shortest possible length of the line segment ST, giving your
answer in the form 𝑎 + 𝑏√𝑐 where a, b and c are integers.
(5)
(Total 11 marks)
Q5.
The circle C has centre P and equation x2 − 22x + y2 − 16y + 135 = 0

(a) (i) Write the equation of C in the form

(x − a)2 + (y − b)2 = k
(2)

(ii) State the radius of C and the coordinates of its centre.

(2)

(b) A chord of C has length 6

Find the perpendicular distance from the centre P to this chord.

Give your answer in the form where a is an integer.

(3)

(c) A circle C′ with centre at the origin has the same radius as the circle C.

Describe fully the transformation that maps C onto C′.

(2)
(Total 9 marks)

Q6.
A circle with centre C(−3, 2) has equation

x2 + y2 + 6x − 4y = 12

(a) Find the y-coordinates of the points where the circle crosses the y-axis.
(3)

(b) Find the radius of the circle.

(3)

(c) The point P(2, 5) lies outside the circle.

(i) Find the length of CP, giving your answer in the form , where n is
an integer.
(2)

(ii) The point Q lies on the circle so that PQ is a tangent to the circle.
Find the length of PQ.
(2)
(Total 10 marks)
Q7.
A circle C has equation

𝑥 ( + 𝑦 ( − 10𝑥 + 14𝑦 + 25 = 0

(a) Write the equation of C in the form

(𝑥 − 𝑎)( + (𝑦 − 𝑏)( = 𝑘

where a, b and k are integers.

(3)

(b) Hence, for the circle C, write down:

(i) the coordinates of its centre;

(1)

(ii) its radius.

(1)

(c) (i) Sketch the circle C.

(2)

(ii) Write down the coordinates of the point on C that is furthest away
from the x-axis.
(2)

(d) Given that k has the same value as in part (a), describe geometrically the
transformation which maps the circle with equation (𝑥 + 1)( + 𝑦 ( = 𝑘 onto
the circle C.
(3)
(Total 12 marks)
Q8.
A circle with centre C has equation 𝑥 ( + 𝑦 ( + 14𝑥 − 10𝑦 + 49 = 0.

(a) Express this equation in the form

(𝑥 − 𝑎)( + (𝑦 − 𝑏)( = 𝑟 (

(b) Write down:

(i) the coordinates of C;

(3)

(ii) the radius of the circle.

(2)

(c) Sketch the circle.

(2)

(d) A line has equation y = kx + 6, where k is a constant.

(i) Show that the x-coordinates of any points of intersection of the line
and the circle satisfy the equation (𝑘 ( + 1)𝑥 ( + 2(𝑘 + 7)𝑥 + 25 = 0.
(2)

(ii) The equation (𝑘 ( + 1)𝑥 ( + 2(𝑘 + 7)𝑥 + 25 = 0 has equal roots. Show
that

12𝑘 ( − 7𝑘 − 12 = 0
(3)

(iii) Hence find the values of k for which the line is a tangent to the circle.
(2)
(Total 14 marks)
Q9.
The circle with centre C(5, 8) touches the y-axis, as shown in the diagram.

(a) Express the equation of the circle in the form

(𝑥 − 𝑎)( + (𝑦 − 𝑏)( = 𝑘
(2)

(b) (i) Verify that the point A(2, 12) lies on the circle.
(1)

(ii) Find an equation of the tangent to the circle at the point A, giving
your answer in the form 𝑠𝑥 + 𝑡𝑦 + 𝑢 = 0, where s, t and u are
integers.
(5)

(c) The points P and Q lie on the circle, and the mid-point of PQ is M (7, 12).

(i) Show that the length of CM is 𝑛√5, where n is an integer.

(2)

(ii) Hence find the area of triangle PCQ.

(3)
(Total 13 marks)
Q10.
The diagram shows a circle C and a line L, which is the tangent to C at the point
(1, 1). The equations of C and L are

𝑥 ( + 𝑦 ( = 2 and 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 2

respectively.

The circle C is now transformed by a stretch with scale factor 2 parallel to the x-
axis. The image of C under this stretch is an ellipse E.

(b) Find equations of:

(i) the ellipse E;

(2)

(ii) the tangent to E at the point (2, 1).

(2)

(Total 8 marks)
Q11.
A circle has centre C (−3, 1) and radius √13

(a) (i) Express the equation of the circle in the form

(𝑥 − 𝑎)( + (𝑦 − 𝑏)( = 𝑘
(2)

(ii) Hence find the equation of the circle in the form

𝑥 ( + 𝑦 ( + 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑛𝑦 + 𝑝 = 0

where m, n and p are integers.

(3)

(b) The circle cuts the y-axis at the points A and B. Find the distance AB.
(3)

(c) (i) Verify that the point D (−5, −2) lies on the circle.
(1)

(ii) Find the gradient of CD.

(2)

(iii) Hence find an equation of the tangent to the circle at the point D.
(2)
(Total 13 marks)
Q12.
The diagram shows the circle C and the triangle PQR

The points P, Q(9, 17) and R(k, 5), where k is a constant, lie on C

A
(a) PR is a diameter of C and the gradient of PQ is
&

Show that k = 13
(3)

(b) The centre of C has coordinates (8, 10)

(i) Find the length of the radius of C giving your answer in exact form.
(2)

(ii) Hence state the equation of C giving your answer in the form

(x − a)2 + (y − b)2 = c

where a, b and c are integers

(1)

(c) The circle D has equation

x2 − 8 x + y2 + 6 y − d = 0

where d is a constant.

The radius of D is equal in length to the radius of C

(i) Find the coordinates of the centre of D

(2)

(ii) Describe the transformation which maps D onto C

(2)
(Total 10 marks)