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-   -   Centre and radius of a circle using equation (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=788108)

  • Mar 30, 2014, 12:44 AM
    aztect
    Centre and radius of a circle using equation
    Hello I've been looking at this question for awhile but i still don't understand it. To find the centre and radius of the circle given a equation such as
    (x-2)^2+(y-4)^2=8

    What I've tried is
    x^2-4+y^2-16=8
    x^2+y^2=8+16+4
    x^2+y^2 = 28

    So if i wanted the center ill make either x or y =0?
    which gives me the coordinates to the center being; 5.3,5.3? I'm not sure if this is correct just following what I think i know.
  • Mar 30, 2014, 05:55 AM
    ebaines
    When you have an equation of a circle in the form

    (x-a)^2+(y-b)^2=r^2

    the center is at (a,b) and the radius is r. So for your equation you have a=2 and b=4, so the center is at (2,4), and radius = sqrt(8).

    Also,when you expand (x-2)^2 you should get (x-2)(x-2) = x^2-4x+4.
  • Apr 1, 2014, 04:39 AM
    aztect
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ebaines View Post
    When you have an equation of a circle in the form

    (x-a)^2+(y-b)^2=r^2

    the center is at (a,b) and the radius is r. So for your equation you have a=2 and b=4, so the center is at (2,4), and radius = sqrt(8).

    Also,when you expand (x-2)^2 you should get (x-2)(x-2) = x^2-4x+4.

    just to confirm the coordinates for the center of the following my equation is negative, so does that mean it should be (-2,-4)?
  • Apr 1, 2014, 05:11 AM
    ebaines
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by aztect View Post
    just to confirm the coordinates for the center of the following my equation is negative, so does that mean it should be (-2,-4)?

    No. A circle with center at (-2,4) and radius would have the equation .

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