Two circles have the following equations (x +5 )^2+(y +6 )^2= 9 and (x +2 )^2+(y -1 )^2= 81 . Does one circle contain the other? If not, what is the greatest possible distance between a point on one circle and another point on the other?

1 Answer

The circles intersect but neither one of them contains the other.
Greatest possible distance color(blue)(d_f=19.615773105864" "units

Explanation:

The given equations of the circle are
(x+5)^2+(y+6)^2=9" "first circle
(x+2)^2+(y-1)^2=81" "second circle

We start with the equation passing thru the centers of the circle

C_1(x_1, y_1)=(-5, -6) and C_2(x_2, y_2)=(-2, 1) are the centers.

Using two-point form

y-y_1=((y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1))*(x-x_1)

y--6=((1--6)/(-2--5))*(x--5)

y+6=((1+6)/(-2+5))*(x+5)

y+6=((7)/(3))*(x+5)

After simplification

3y+18=7x+35

7x-3y=-17" "equation of the line passing thru the centers and at the two points farthest to each other.

Solve for the points using first circle and the line
(x+5)^2+(y+6)^2=9" "first circle
7x-3y=-17" "the line

One point at A(x_a, y_a)=(-6.1817578957376, -8.7574350900543)
Another at B(x_b, y_b)=(-3.8182421042626, -3.2425649099459)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Solve for the points using second circle and the line
(x+2)^2+(y-1)^2=81" "second circle
7x-3y=-17" "the line

One point at C(x_c, y_c)=(1.5452736872127, 9.2723052701629)
Another at D(x_d, y_d)=(-5.5452736872127, -7.2723052701625)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To compute for the farthest distance d_f we will use point A and C

d_f=sqrt((x_a-x_c)^2+(y_a-y_c)^2)

d_f=sqrt((-6.1817578957376-1.5452736872127)^2+(-8.7574350900543-9.2723052701629)^2)

color(blue)(d_f=19.615773105864" "unit)s

Kindly see the graph
![Desmos.com](useruploads.socratic.org)

God bless .... I hope the explanation is useful.