GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

13.4 The equation of a circle and tangents — Practise

Work independently. Questions and answers are checked from the same problem bank. Questions marked H extend the Higher work.

  1. H State the centre and radius of x2+y2=25x^2+y^2=25.
  2. H Write the equation of a circle with centre (0,0)(0,0) and radius 44.
  3. H Find the equation of a circle centred at the origin with radius 33.
  4. H Show that (3,4)(3,4) lies on x2+y2=25x^2+y^2=25.
  5. H Find the xx-coordinates where x2+y2=25x^2+y^2=25 meets the xx-axis.
  6. H A radius has gradient 22. Find the tangent gradient.
  7. H Find the equation of the tangent at (3,4)(3,4) to x2+y2=25x^2+y^2=25.
  8. H Find the tangent equation at (0,5)(0,5) to the circle x2+y2=25x^2+y^2=25.
  9. H H Find the tangent gradient at (−3,4)(-3,4) to x2+y2=25x^2+y^2=25.
Answers and concise solutions

1. Circle centre and radius

Answer: Centre (0,0)(0,0) and radius 55.

2. Circle at the origin

Answer: x2+y2=16x^2+y^2=16.

3. Circle at the origin with radius 3

Answer: x2+y2=9x^2+y^2=9.

4. Check a point on a circle

Answer: 32+42=9+16=253^2+4^2=9+16=25, so the point lies on the circle.

5. Circle and axis intersections

Answer: On the xx-axis, y=0y=0. Then x2=25x^2=25, so x=−5x=-5 or x=5x=5.

6. Tangent gradient

Answer: The tangent gradient is −1/2-1/2, the negative reciprocal.

7. Tangent equation at (3,4)(3,4)

Answer: The radius gradient is 4/34/3, so the tangent gradient is −3/4-3/4. Through (3,4)(3,4): y−4=−34(x−3)y-4=-\frac34(x-3), or y=−34x+254y=-\frac34x+\frac{25}{4}.

8. Tangent at top of circle

Answer: The radius is vertical, so its tangent is horizontal. The equation is y=5y=5.

9. Tangent gradient at the left side

Answer: The radius gradient from (0,0)(0,0) to (−3,4)(-3,4) is −4/3-4/3. The tangent gradient is its negative reciprocal, 3/43/4.

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