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Circles
Locus of a point which moves in a plane such that its distance from a fixed point is
always a constant is called a CIRCLE. The fixed point is called the Centre, and the
fixed distance is called radius
1. Equation of a circle
 With centre at origin and radius a ( x − 0)2 + ( y − 0)2 =
a2

 With centre (h, k) and radius a : ( x − h )2 + ( y − k )2 =

a2

 With centre (h, k) and touching the origin. x 2 + y 2 − 2hx − 2ky =

0 In this case

=r h2 + k 2

 With centre (h, k) and touching the x axis ( x − h )2 + ( y − k )2 =;

k2

0 The point on x axis can be found by putting y = 0 in this

x 2 + y 2 − 2hx − ky + h 2 =

equation or ( x − h )2 =
0

 With centre (h, k) and touching the y axis x 2 + y 2 − 2hx − 2ky + k 2 =

0 The point on

y axis can be found by putting x = 0 in this equation or ( x − k )2 =

0

 Touching both the axes: Centre will be ( h, h ) and radius h

2. General equation of the circle x 2 + y 2 + 2 gx + 2 fy + c =0 Centre is ( − g , − f ) and radius

is g 2 + f 2 − c (Always make the coefficients of x 2 and y 2 unity before finding the

centre and radius

3. From the general equation of the circle

 Lengths of intercepts : I x =
2 g 2 − c and I y =
2 f 2 −c

 If the circle touches the x-axis, at ( x1 ,0) the it intersects the x-axis at two

distinct points. ∴ x 2 + 2 gx + c = ( x − x1 )2 . Comparing the coefficients we find g

and c. Similarly if it touches y-axis at (0, y1 ) then y 2 + 2 fy + c = ( y − y1 )2 .

Comparing coefficients we find f and c

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4. For a line to be tangent to the given circle, the perpendicular distance of the
line from the centre should be equal to the radius of the circle
5. Equation of a circle whose diameter is the line joining A( x1 , y1 ) and B( x2 , y2 ) is

( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) + ( y − y1 )( y − y2 ) =
0

6. To find the circle through three non collinear points A( x1 , y1 ), B ( x2 , y2 ), C ( x3 , y3 ) .

 Assume the equation of the circle to be x 2 + y 2 + 2 gx + 2 fy + c =0 . Put the three

different values of x and y and obtain three equation. Solving them gives g, f
and c.
 Let C be the circle with AB as diameter. L is a line through A and B. The
required circle is C + λ L =
0 . λ is obtained by putting the coordinates of C.
 Let O be the point of intersection of perpendicular
bisectors of lines AB and AC. O will be the centre of
circumcircle of ABC . Radius = AO.
7. Parametric equation of a circle
 For x 2 + y 2 = a 2 → x = a cos θ ; y = a sin θ Fig 1

 For ( x − h )2 + ( y − k )2 = r 2 → x = h + r cos θ ; y = k + r sin θ

8. Two circles with centres C1 and C2 and radius r1

and r2 touch each other
 Internally if C1C2= r1 − r2

 Externally if C1C2= r1 + r2

9. If the circles do not touch each other, we have

C1C2 > r1 + r2 or C1C2 < r1 − r2
Fig 2

10. If the circles intersect C1C2 < r1 + r2 or C1C2 > r1 − r2

11. Equation of common chord of two circles

intersecting at two different points is given by C1 − C2 =
0, where C1 and C2 are the

equation of the two circles(see fig 1)

Length of the common chord is 2 r12 − p12 = 2 r2 2 − p2 2 , where p1 and p2 are the

perpendicular distances of the centres of the two circles from the centre of the
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circles. If the perpendicular distance of the common chord C1 − C2 =
0, from the

centre is equal to the corresponding radius, the common chord becomes the
common tangent
12. Equation of the family of circles passing through the intersection of circle
C1=0 and the line L1=0 is C1 + λ L1 =
0 (see fig 2)

13. Equation of the family of circles passing through the

points A( x1 , y1 ) and B( x2 , y2 ) , which lie on the line L1=0 is

( x − x1 )( x − x2 ) + ( y − y1 )( y − y2 ) + λ L1 =
0

14. The equation of the circle which touches given circle

at a given point ( x1 , y1 ) C1 + λ L =
0
Fig 3
In case B → A then chord AB tends to be tangent at A

and C1 becomes ( x − x1 )2 + ( y − y1 )2 when x → x1 and y → y1 i.e a point circle of zero

radius. In this case required family of circles is ( x − x1 )2 + ( y − y1 )2 + λ L =

0 (see fig

3)
15. Equation of family of circles passing through
the point of intersection of the circles
=
C1 0 and C=
2 0 is C1 + λC=
2 0(λ ≠ −1) (See fig 3)

16. Position of point A( x1 , y1 ) with respect to the

circle x 2 + y 2 + 2 gx + 2 fy + c =0
Fig 4
 If x12 + y12 + 2 gx1 + 2 fy1 + c > 0 , A( x1 , y1 ) lies

outside the circle

 If x12 + y12 + 2 gx1 + 2 fy1 + c =0 , A( x1 , y1 ) lies on the

circle
 If x12 + y12 + 2 gx1 + 2 fy1 + c < 0 , A( x1 , y1 ) lies inside the
Fig 5
circle
17. The greatest and least distance of a point A( x1 , y1 ) from a circle (see fig 5)

 Least distance = AC − r
AP

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 Greatest distance = AC + r
AQ

18. Tangent to the circle

=
 x 2 + y 2 a 2 at A(x1 ,=
y1 ) is xx1 + yy1 a 2

 In terms of slope: Any line =

y mx + c is tangent to the circle x 2 + y 2 =
a 2 if

± a 1 + m 2 Hence the line y =mx ± a 1 + m 2 is always a tangent to the circle.

c=

 x 2 + y 2 + 2 gx + 2 fy + c =0 at any point A( x1 , y1 ) is

xx1 + yy1 + g ( x + x1 ) + f ( y + y=
1) + c 0 or x ( x1 + g ) + y ( y1 + f ) + ( gx1 + fy=
1 + c) 0

19. Normal at
x y
 A( x1 , y1 ) to the circle x 2 + y 2 =
a 2 is =
x1 y1

x − x1 y − y1
 A( x1 , y1 ) to the circle x 2 + y 2 + 2 gx + 2 fy + c =is
0 =
x1 + g y1 + f

20. Chord of contact of tangents drawn from a

point T ( x1 , y1 ) (see fig 6) Tangents from T at A and

B is given by TA = px + qy = a 2 ; TB = hx + ky = a 2 . The

equation xx1 + yy1 =

a 2 represents the equation of

line AB, and is called chord of contact of the point Fig 6

T ( x1 , y1 )

Note : The equation of the chord of contact of a point T ( x1 , y1 ) (outside the

circle) is of the same form as the equation of tangent to the circle at the point
T ( x1 , y1 )

21. Polar of a given point P ( x1 , y1 ) w.r.t the circle x 2 + y 2 =

a2 .

Definition: If through any fixed point P( x1 , y1 ) chords of

the circle be drawn then the locus of the points of

intersection of tangents at the extremities of these
chords is called the polar of the point P and the
point P is called the pole.

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Equation of polar: Let QR be the chord passing through the point
P( x1 , y1 ) tangents at the extremities of which intersect at the point T (h, k). Now

QR is the chord of contact of the point (h, k) and hence its equation is hx + ky =
a2

But QR passes through P( x1 , y1 ) ∴ hx1 + ky1 =

a 2 Hence the locus of the point (h, k)

is xx1 + yy1 =
a 2 Above is the equation of the polar of the point ( x1 , y1 )

Note : The form of the equation of the polar of any point ( x1 , y1 ) is the same as

the equation of tangent at the point ( x1 , y1 ) or the chord of contact of tangents

drawn from the point ( x1 , y1 )

22. Conjugate points and Conjugate lines. Two points A and B are said to be
conjugate w.r.t, a circle if the polar of either passes through the other. Similarly
any two lines
= and L2 0 are said to be conjugate w.r.t. a circle if the pole of
L1 0=

either lies on the other.

23. Chord with a given middle point: Let L be the middle point of the chord AB
and C be the centre of the circle x 2 + y 2 =
a 2 , then CL is perpendicular to AB. Slope
k −0 k −h
of=
CL = ;Slope of AB= − h / k ∴ y − k = ( x − h ) ⇒ hx + ky = h 2 + k 2
h−0 h k
24. Length of tangent from a given point Let the circle be and the given point P
be ( x1 , y1 ) and PT be the tangent drawn from P. thus the equation will be

x12 + y12 + 2 gx1 + 2 fy1 + c =PT 2

25. Orthogonal intersection of two circles. Two circles arc said to intersect ortho-

Fig 10
Fig 9
Fig 8

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gonally if the angle between the tangents to them at their common point of
intersection is at right angle. i.e. if 2 g1g 2 + 2 f1 f 2 =
c1 + c2

26. Another method for orthogonal intersection. C1P = length of tangent from the

centre of first circle to 2nd and it is equal to FI the radius of the first circle i.e.
=C1P r1=
. Similarly C2 P r2

27. Angle of Intersection of two circles. In case the circles intersect at an angle θ ,
r12 + r2 2 − (C1C2 )2
then from triangle C1PC2 by cosine formula, we have cos θ =
2r2 r2

28. Radical axis. Definition: The radical axis of two circles

= and C2 0 is the
C1 0=

locus of a point which moves so that the lengths of the tangents drawn from it to
the two circles are equal, If P( h, k ) be the point, then by definition PT 2 = PT '2 .

Hence the locus of point P is 2 x ( g1 − g 2 ) + 2 y ( f1 − f 2 ) + c1 − c2 =

0

In case the circles touch the radical axis becomes the common tangent and in
case they intersect the radical axis becomes the common chord.
2( g1 − g 2 ) f −f
Slope of radical axis =
− =
m1 Slope of C1C2 = 1 2 = m2 .Clearly m1.m2 = −1
2( f1 − f 2 ) g1 − g 2

Hence the radical axis is perpendicular to the line joining the centres of the two
circles.
29. Number of common tangents
 If the circles are touching internally, C1C2= r1-r2
(Fig 11)  One
 If the circles are touching externally, C1C2=
r1+r2 (Fig 12) Three
 If the circles are intersecting and r1-r2< C1C2<
r1+r2 (Fig 13)  Two
 If the circles are neither touching nor
intersecting C1C2 > r1+r2 (Fig 14) Four
 If the circles are completely within one another (Fig 15 )  Zero

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Fig 14

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