What is General Equation of a Circle
If (h, k) is the co-ordinate of center of a circle and r is the radius of a circle, then Standard Equation of a Circle is:
(x – h)² + (y – k)² = r² ————————(1)
General Equation of a Circle is the alternate version of Standard Equation (1) of a Circle which is obtained by squaring the terms and simplifying.
As we know the formula
(a – b)² = a² + b² – 2ab
Apply above formula to Standard Equation of a Circle
(x – h)² + (y – k)² = r²
(x² + h² -2xh) + (y² + k² -2yk) = r²
Rearrage the terms
x² + y² – 2xh – 2yk + h² + k² – r² =0
x² + y² + 2x(-h) + 2y(-k) + h² + k² – r² =0
Substitute
x = -g
y = -f
c = h² + k² – r²
we get
x² + y² + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0 ——————(2)
Equation (2) is named as the General Equation of a Circle.
Here,
(-g, -f) is the center of a circle and
`sqrt{g^2+f^2-c}` is the radius of a circle.
If the General Equation of any Circle is given, we can find its Center and Radius by two methods:
If the center and Radius of any circle is given, we can find its equation.
Click here for Solved Example 1
Click here for Solved Example 2
RELATED POST:
Definition of a Circle, Standard Equation of a Circle, Unit circle and its Equation
Solved EXAMPLE 1 on how to find Center and Radius of a circle from its Standard Equation
Solved EXAMPLE 2 on how to find Center and Radius of a circle from its Standard Equation