A circle has a center that falls on the line y = 3/2x +1 y=32x+1 and passes through (1 ,2 )(1,2) and (6 ,1 )(6,1). What is the equation of the circle?

1 Answer
Nov 8, 2016

The equation of the circle is:
(x - 34/7)^2 + (y - 58/7)^2 = (sqrt2665/7)^2(x347)2+(y587)2=(26657)2

Explanation:

The equation of a circle is:

(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2(xh)2+(yk)2=r2

where (h,k)(h,k) is the center and r is the radius.

Substitute the point (h,k) into the equation for the line on which the center lies:

k = 3/2h + 1k=32h+1" [1]" [1]

We can use the two given points and the equation of a circle to write two more equations:

(1 - h)^2 + (2 - k)^2 = r^2(1h)2+(2k)2=r2" [2]" [2]

(6 - h)^2 + (1 - k)^2 = r^2(6h)2+(1k)2=r2" [3]" [3]

We can, temporarily, eliminate the variable r by setting the left side of equation [2] equal to the left side of equation [3]:

(1 - h)^2 + (2 - k)^2 = (6 - h)^2 + (1 - k)^2(1h)2+(2k)2=(6h)2+(1k)2

Use the pattern (a - b)^2 = a^2 - 2ab + b^2(ab)2=a22ab+b2, to expand the squares:

1 - 2h + h^2 + 4 - 4k + k^2 = 36 - 12h + h^2 + 1 - 2k + k^212h+h2+44k+k2=3612h+h2+12k+k2

The square terms are the same on both sides of the equation, therefore, they cancel:

1 - 2h + 4 - 4k = 36 - 12h + 1 - 2k12h+44k=3612h+12k

Collect the 4 constant terms into a single term on the right:

-2h - 4k = 32 - 12h - 2k2h4k=3212h2k

Collect the 2 h terms into a single term on the right:

-4k = 32 - 10h - 2k4k=3210h2k

Collect the 2 k terms into a single term on the left:

-2k = 32 - 10h2k=3210h

Divide both sides by -2:

k = 5h - 16k=5h16" [4]" [4]

Subtract equation [4] from equation [1]:

k - k = 3/2h - 5h + 1 + 16kk=32h5h+1+16

0 = -7/2h + 170=72h+17

h = 34/7h=347

Substitute 34/7 for h in equation [1]:

k = 3/2(34/7) + 1k=32(347)+1

k = 58/7k=587

Substitute the values for h and k into equation [2] or [3] (I will use equation [2]):

(1 - 34/7)^2 + (2 - 58/7)^2 = r^2(1347)2+(2587)2=r2

(-27/7)^2 + (-44/7)^2 = r^2(277)2+(447)2=r2

r^2 = 2665/7^2r2=266572

r = sqrt(2665)/7r=26657

The equation of the circle is:
(x - 34/7)^2 + (y - 58/7)^2 = (sqrt2665/7)^2(x347)2+(y587)2=(26657)2