A Maths Revision Notes >>

Circles: Equation

Formulas

Standard form (i.e. centre & radius form):

$ \text{Equation: } $$ (x - a)^2 + (y - b)^2 = r^2 $

$ \text{Centre: } $$ (a, b) $

$ \text{Radius} = \phantom{.} $$ r \text{ units} $

General form:

$ \text{Equation: } $$ x^2 + y^2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 $

$ \text{Centre: } $$ (-g, -f) $

$ \text{Radius} = \phantom{.} $$ \sqrt{ g^2 + f^2 - c } $

Example

(i) State the coordinates of the centre and the radius of the circle with equation $(x - 2)^2 + (y + 1)^2 = 9$.

Answer: $ \text{Centre: } (2, -1), \text{ Radius} = 3 \text{ units} $

(ii) Find the coordinates of the centre and the radius of the circle with equation $2x^2 + 2y^2 + 8x - 12y + 8 = 0$.

Answer: $ \text{Centre: } (-2, 3), \text{ Radius} = 3 \text{ units} $

Solutions (by using general form)

Solutions (by completing the square)

Questions

Locate the centre of the circle

1. A circle has radius of $4$ units and passes through the origin. Given that the line $y = 3x - 4$ passes through the centre of the circle and the $x$-coordinate of the centre is positive, find the coordinates of the centre of the circle.

Answer: $ (2.4, 3.2) $

Solutions

Does a point lie inside, outside or on the circle?

diagram
  • If a point lies inside the circle, distance between centre and the point < radius of circle
  • If a point lies outside the circle, distance between centre and the point > radius of circle
  • If a point lies on the circle, distance between centre and the point = radius of circle

2. The equation of a circle is $x^2 + y^2 - 10 = 0$. By showing appropriate workings, determine the point $(2, 2)$ lies inside or outside the circle.

Answer: Inside the circle

Solutions

Diameter of circle

3. Points $A$ and $B$ have coordinates $(7, 6)$ and $(3, 4)$ respectively. Given that $AB$ is the diameter of a circle, find the equation of the circle.

Answer: $ (x - 5)^2 + (y - 5)^2 = 5 $

Solutions

Line intersects circle

4. The line $y = -x + 5$ cuts the circle $(x + 1)^2 + (y - 2)^2 = 16$ at points $A$ and $B$. Find the length of $AB$ and state whether $AB$ passes through the centre of the circle.

Answer: $ \sqrt{32} \text{ units} $, does not pass through centre

Solutions

Discriminant: How many times a line intersects circle

Steps:

  1. Substitute equation of line into equation of circle
  2. Simplify equation to form a quadratic equation, i.e. $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$
  3. Apply the relevant discriminant conditions:
    • Line meets circle at two points $\implies b^2 - 4ac > 0$
    • Line meets circle at one point or is tangent to the circle $\implies b^2 - 4ac = 0$
    • Line does not meet circle $\implies b^2 - 4ac < 0$

5. Find the range of values of $m$ for which the line $y = mx - 1$ intersects the circle $x^2 + y^2 - 4x + 3 = 0$ at two distinct points.

Answer: $ 0 < m < {4 \over 3} $

Solutions

Past year O level questions

Year & paper Comments
2025 P1 Question 13 (Tough question in general)
2024 P2 Question 7 (Look out for parts c & d)
2023 P1 Question 10 (Look out for part c)
2012 P1 Question 13
2010 P1 Question 12
2009 P2 Question 9
2008 P2 Question 11


Coordinate geometry: Geometry problems Circles: Circle properties