Find the equation of a circle passing through the points (1,−4), (5,2) and having its centre on the line x − 2y + 9 = 0
Solution
Let C(h, k) be the centre of the required circle
which lies on the line x – 2y + 9 = 0.
∴ Equation of line becomes
h – 2k + 9 = 0 …(i)
Also, the required circle passes through the points A(1, – 4) and B(5, 2).
∴ CA = CB = radius
CA = CB
By distance formula,
`sqrt(("h" - 1)^2 + ["k" - (- 4)]^2) = sqrt(("h" - 5)^2 + ("k" - 2)^2)`
Squaring both the sides, we get
(h – 1)2 + (k + 4)2 = (h – 5)2 + (k – 2)2
∴ h2 – 2h + 1 + k2 + 8k + 16 = h2 – 10h + 25 + k2 – 4k + 4
∴ – 2h + 8k + 17 = – 10h – 4k + 29
∴ 8h + 12k – 12 = 0
∴ 2h + 3k – 3 = 0 …(ii)
By (ii) – (i) x 2, we get
7k = 21
∴ k = 3
Substituting k = 3 in (i), we get
h – 2(3) + 9 = 0
∴ h – 6 + 9 = 0
∴ h = – 3
∴ Centre of the circle is C (– 3, 3).
radius (r) = CA
= `sqrt([1 - (-3)]^2 + (-4 - 3)^2)`
= `sqrt(4^2 + (-7)^2)`
= `sqrt(16 + 49)`
= `sqrt(65)`
The equation of a circle with centre at (h, k) and radius r is given by
(x – h)2 + (y – k)2 = r2
Here, h = – 3, k = 3, r = `sqrt(65)`
∴ The required equation of the circle is
[x – (–3)]2 + (y – 3)2 = `(sqrt(65))^2`
∴ (x + 3)2 + (y – 3)2 = 65
∴ x2 + 6x + 9 + y2 – 6y + 9 – 65 = 0
∴ x2 + y2 + 6x – 6y – 47 = 0.