The standard form of the equation of a circle with
its center at the origin is
x y r
2 2 2
r is the radius of the circle so if we take the square root of the
right hand side, we'll know how big the radius is.
Notice that both the x and y terms are squared. Linear
equations don’t have either the x or y terms squared.
Parabolas have only the x term was squared (or only the
y term, but NOT both).
Let's look at the equation x y 9
2 2
This is r2 so r = 3
The center of the circle is at the origin and the radius is 3.
Let's graph this circle.
Count out 3 in all Center at (0, 0)
directions since
that is the radius
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
If the center of the circle is NOT at the origin then the
equation for the standard form of a circle looks like this:
x h y k
2 2
r 2
The center of the circle is at (h, k). This is r2 so r = 4
x 3 y 1
2 2
16
Find the center and radius and graph this circle.
The center of the circle is at (h, k) which is (3,1).
The radius is 4
- - - - - - - 12345678
765432 1
0
If you take the equation of a circle in standard form for
example:
2
x2 y4 4 2
This is r2 so r = 2
(x - (-2))
Remember center is at (h, k) with (x - h) and (y - k)
since the x is plus something and not minus, (x + 2)
can be written as (x - (-2))
You can find the center and radius easily.
The center is at (-2, 4) and the radius is 2.
Exercises: In each
item, give the
standard equation of
the circle satisfying
the given conditions.
1.) center at the origin,
radius 4
2.) center ( -4, 3), radius 7
3.) center (5, -6), tangent to the y-
axis
4.)center (5,-6) tangent to the x-
axis
5.) It has a diameter with
endpoints A (-1,4) and B (4,2).
Find the standard equation of the
circle being described in each item.
1.) Center at the origin, radius 11
2.) Center (-6,7), tangent to the y-axis
3.) Center (0, 0) radius = 7 11
4.) Center (-2, 5) radius = 6
5.) It has a diameter with endpoints
A(-3,2) and B(7,4)
Identify the center and radius of the
circle with the given equation in each
item.
1.) (x- 3/2)2 + (y-5/3)2 = 9
2.) x2 + y2 = 36 11
3.) 9x2 + 9y2 = 49
Now let's work some examples:
Find an equation of the circle with center at (0, 0) and radius 7.
Let's sub in center and radius values in the standard form
x 0h y k0
2 2
7r 2
x y 49
2 2
1.) Find an equation of the circle with center at (-2, 5) and radius 6
Subbing in the values in standard form we have:
x -2h y k5
2 2
6r 2
x 2 y 5
2 2
36
Identify the center and radius and sketch the graph:
x 4 y 3
2 2
25
Remember the center values end up being the opposite sign of what
is with the x and y and the right hand side is the radius squared.
So the center is at (-4, 3) and the radius is 5.
- - - - - - - 0123 4 56 78
7 654 32 1
Find an equation of the circle with center at (-2, 5) and radius 6
Subbing in the values in standard form we have:
x -2h y k5
2 2
6r 2
x 2 y 5
2 2
36
Identify the center and radius and sketch the graph:
9 x 9 y 64
2 2
9 9 9
To get in standard form we don't want coefficients on the
squared terms so let's divide everything by 9.
Remember to square
64
x y
2 2 root this to get the
radius.
9
So the center is at (0, 0) and the radius is 8/3.
- - - - - - - 12345678
765432 1
0
x y 4 x 8 y 16 0
2 2
If we'd have started with it like this, we'd have to complete the
square on both the x's and y's to get in standard form.
Move constant
Group x terms and a place Group y terms and a place
to the other side
to complete the square to complete the square
x 4 x ____ y 8 y ____
2
4 2
16 16 ___
4 ___
16
Complete the square
Write factored and wahlah! back in standard form.
x 2 y 4
2 2
4
Find the center and radius of the circle:
x y 6x 4 y 3 0
2 2
We have to complete the square on both the x's and y's to get in
standard form.
Move constant
Group x terms and a place Group y terms and a place to the other side
to complete the square to complete the square
x 6 x ____ y 4 y ____
2
9 2
4 3 ___
9 ___
4
Write factored for standard form.
x 3 y 2
2 2
16
So the center is at (-3, 2) and the radius is 4.
