NZ Level 8 (NZC) Level 3 (NCEA) [In development]
Circles (Mixed and Semi-Circles)
Lesson

## Equation of a Circle with Centre (0,0)

The following interactive allows you to explore the standard form equation of a circle. It shows how the equation changes as the radius $r$r changes. To change the radius, just drag the $r$r slider.

General Equation for Circle with Centre at the Origin

$x^2+y^2=r^2$x2+y2=r2

where $\left(x,y\right)$(x,y) are a pair of coordinates and $r$r is the radius

Proof:

This formula is derived using Pythagoras' theorem. Consider the following graph, which is a circle with the centre at $\left(0,0\right)$(0,0) and a radius of $5$5 units. The blue radius touches the circle at $\left(4,3\right)$(4,3).

Let's draw in a right-angled triangle:

Using Pythagoras' theorem:

 $3^2+4^2$32+42 $=$= $9+16$9+16 $=$= $25$25 $=$= $r^2$r2

$\therefore$ $x^2+y^2=r^2$x2+y2=r2

#### Practice Questions

##### Question 1

State the equation of the circle.

##### Question 2

Consider the circle $x^2+y^2=4$x2+y2=4.

1. Find the $x$x-intercepts. Write all solutions on the same line separated by a comma.

2. Find the $y$y-intercepts. Write all solutions on the same line separated by a comma.

3. Graph the circle.

## Vertical Translations

Circles that are centred at the origin have the equation $x^2+y^2=r^2$x2+y2=r2.

Below is a circle with radius $3$3 units that is centred at the origin.

How would the equation change with vertical translations of this circle?

### Experimenting with vertical translations

By vertically translating a circle, we are moving it above or below the origin. In the applet below, click and hold the centre of the circle to drag it up and down along the $y$y-axis. You can also move the circle vertically with the $k$k slider, and adjust the radius with the $r$r slider.

• When we change the circle's radius, which part of the equation is affected?
• When we translate the circle vertically, which part of the equation is affected?
• What is the relationship between the $y$y-coordinate of the circle's centre $k$k and the equation?

### Equation for vertically translated circles

By using the applet above, we can make the following observations:

• The term on the right side of the equation is always the square of the radius $r$r.
• By translating the circle vertically $k$k units from the origin, its centre has the coordinates $\left(0,k\right)$(0,k).
• $k$k is positive when the circle's centre is above the $x$x-axis and negative when it is below.
• The equation takes the form $x^2+\left(y-k\right)^2=r^2$x2+(yk)2=r2 with a vertical translation from the origin.

Vertical translations of circles

The equation of a circle translated $k$k units vertically from the origin is

$x^2+\left(y-k\right)^2=r^2$x2+(yk)2=r2,

where $r$r is the radius of the circle.

#### Practice questions

##### Question 3

Consider the graph of the circle shown in the Diagram 1.

1. The graph of the circle is translated to the position shown in Diagram 2.

Which of the following statements is true?

The graph of the circle has been translated $6$6 units up.

A

The graph of the circle has been translated $6$6 units down.

B

The graph of the circle has been translated $6$6 units up.

A

The graph of the circle has been translated $6$6 units down.

B

##### Question 4

Which of the following equations describe a circle that has been translated $2$2 units downwards from the origin?

1. $x^2+\left(y+2\right)^2=r^2$x2+(y+2)2=r2

A

$\left(x-2\right)^2+y^2=r^2$(x2)2+y2=r2

B

$\left(x+2\right)^2+y^2=r^2$(x+2)2+y2=r2

C

$x^2+\left(y-2\right)^2=r^2$x2+(y2)2=r2

D

$x^2+\left(y+2\right)^2=r^2$x2+(y+2)2=r2

A

$\left(x-2\right)^2+y^2=r^2$(x2)2+y2=r2

B

$\left(x+2\right)^2+y^2=r^2$(x+2)2+y2=r2

C

$x^2+\left(y-2\right)^2=r^2$x2+(y2)2=r2

D

##### Question 5

Given the graph of $x^2+y^2=6^2$x2+y2=62, draw the graph of $x^2+\left(y+3\right)^2=6^2$x2+(y+3)2=62.

## Horizontal Translations

Circles that are centred at the origin have the equation $x^2+y^2=r^2$x2+y2=r2.

Below is a circle with radius $3$3 units that is centred at the origin.

How would the equation change with horizontal translations of this circle?

### Experimenting with horizontal translations

By horizontally translating a circle, we are moving it to the left or right of the origin. In the applet below, click and hold the centre of the circle to drag it left and right along the $x$x-axis. You can also move the circle horizontally with the $h$h slider, and adjust the radius with the $r$r slider.

• When we change the circle's radius, which part of the equation is affected?
• When we translate the circle horizontally, which part of the equation is affected?
• What is the relationship between the $x$x-coordinate of the circle's centre $h$h and the equation?

### Equation for horizontally translated circles

By using the applet above, we can make the following observations:

• The term on the right side of the equation is always the square of the radius $r$r.
• By translating the circle horizontally $h$h units from the origin, its centre has the coordinates $\left(h,0\right)$(h,0).
• $h$h is positive when the circle's centre is on the right hand side of the $y$y-axis and negative when it is on the left.
• The equation takes the form $\left(x-h\right)^2+y^2=r^2$(xh)2+y2=r2 with a horizontal translation from the origin.

Horizontal translations of circles

The equation of a circle translated $h$h units horizontally from the origin is

$\left(x-h\right)^2+y^2=r^2$(xh)2+y2=r2,

where $r$r is the radius of the circle.

#### Practice questions

##### Question 6

Consider the following circles with their respective equations below them.

 Loading Graph... Loading Graph... $x^2+y^2=9$x2+y2=9 $\left(x-2\right)^2+y^2=9$(x−2)2+y2=9
1. The graph of $\left(x-2\right)^2+y^2=9$(x2)2+y2=9 has been horizontally translated from the graph of $x^2+y^2=9$x2+y2=9 by $2$2 units to the:

Left

A

Right

B

Left

A

Right

B

##### Question 7

Consider the following circles with their respective equations below them.

 Loading Graph... Loading Graph... $x^2+y^2=4$x2+y2=4 $\left(x+3\right)^2+y^2=4$(x+3)2+y2=4
1. The graph of $\left(x+3\right)^2+y^2=4$(x+3)2+y2=4 has been horizontally translated from the graph of $x^2+y^2=4$x2+y2=4 by $3$3 units to the:

Left

A

Right

B

Left

A

Right

B

##### Question 8

Consider a circle of radius $3$3 units, centred at the origin. If this circle was horizontally translated $4$4 units to the right of the origin, what would be its equation?

1. $x^2+\left(y-4\right)^2=9$x2+(y4)2=9

A

$\left(x+4\right)^2+y^2=9$(x+4)2+y2=9

B

$x^2+\left(y+4\right)^2=9$x2+(y+4)2=9

C

$\left(x-4\right)^2+y^2=9$(x4)2+y2=9

D