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Circle Example 4

The document outlines the steps to find the equation of a circle with endpoints (−1, 2) and (5, 0) as its diameter. It involves calculating gradients, setting up a perpendicular condition, clearing denominators, rearranging terms, and completing the square. The final equation of the circle is (x − 2)² + (y − 1)² = 10.

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5 views3 pages

Circle Example 4

The document outlines the steps to find the equation of a circle with endpoints (−1, 2) and (5, 0) as its diameter. It involves calculating gradients, setting up a perpendicular condition, clearing denominators, rearranging terms, and completing the square. The final equation of the circle is (x − 2)² + (y − 1)² = 10.

Uploaded by

Gift Musunga
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Problem:

Find the equation of the circle that has the points (−1, 2) and (5, 0) as the ends of its
diameter.
Step 1: Calculate the gradients of the lines
We have two points on the circle: (−1, 2) and (5, 0), which represent the ends of the
diameter. Let the equation of the circle be derived by using the perpendicular gradients
approach.

Gradient from (x, y) to (−1, 2):

y−2
m1 =
x+1
​ ​

Gradient from (x, y) to (5, 0):

y−0 y
m2 = =
x−5 x−5
​ ​ ​

Step 2: Set up the perpendicular condition


Since the two lines from the point (x, y) to (−1, 2) and (x, y) to (5, 0) are perpendicular
(because the angle subtended by the diameter is a right angle), the product of their
gradients must be −1:

m1 ⋅ m2 = −1
​ ​

Substitute the expressions for m1 and m2 :


​ ​

y−2 y
⋅ = −1
x+1 x−5
​ ​

Step 3: Clear the denominators


Multiply both sides by (x + 1)(x − 5) to eliminate the denominators:

(y − 2) ⋅ y = −(x + 1)(x − 5)
Now, simplify both sides:

Left-hand side:

(y − 2) ⋅ y = y 2 − 2y
Right-hand side (expand using FOIL for (x + 1)(x − 5)):

(x + 1)(x − 5) = x2 − 5x + x − 5 = x2 − 4x − 5
Thus, the equation becomes:

y 2 − 2y = −(x2 − 4x − 5)
Simplify the right-hand side:

y 2 − 2y = −x2 + 4x + 5

Step 4: Rearrange everything to one side


Rearrange the terms to bring everything to one side in a standard form:

x2 + y 2 − 4x − 2y − 5 = 0

Step 5: Complete the square


Next, we complete the square for both the x-terms and y -terms.

For the x-terms: x2 − 4x

x2 − 4x = (x − 2)2 − 4

For the y -terms: y 2 − 2y

y 2 − 2y = (y − 1)2 − 1
Substitute these back into the equation:

(x − 2)2 − 4 + (y − 1)2 − 1 − 5 = 0
Simplify the constants:

(x − 2)2 + (y − 1)2 − 10 = 0
Add 10 to both sides:

(x − 2)2 + (y − 1)2 = 10

Final Answer:
The equation of the circle is:
(x − 2)2 + (y − 1)2 = 10 ​

This is the final equation of the circle with the given points (−1, 2) and (5, 0) as the ends
of its diameter.

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