Circle Practice Questions, 2024
Cambridge International AS & A Level
Class: AS MATHEMATICS 9709/01
Lecturer: Man Bahadur Subedi
Q.No.1:
The coordinates of the points A and B are (-1, -2) and (7, 4) respectively.
(a) Find the equation of the circle, C, for which AB is a diameter. [4]
(b) Find the equation of the tangent, T, to circle C at the point B. [4]
(c) Find the equation of the circle which is the reflection of circle C in the line T.
[3]
Q.No.2:
The equation of a circle with center C is 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 8𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 5 = 0.
(a) Find the radius of the circle and the coordinates of C. [3]
The point P(1, 2) lies on the circle
(b) Show that the equation of the tangent to the circle at P is 4y = 3x + 5. [3]
The point Q also lies on the circle and PQ is parallel to the x-axis.
(c) Write down the coordinates of Q. [2]
The tangents to the circle at P and Q meet at T.
(d) Find the coordinates of T. [3]
Q.No.3:
(a) The coordinates of two points A and B are (-7, 3) and (5, 11) respectively.
Show that the equation of the perpendicular bisector of AB is 3x + 2y = 11. [4]
(b) A circle passes through A and B and its center lies on the line 12x − 5y = 70. Find
an equation of the circle. [5]
Q.No.4:
The points A(7, 1), B(7, 9) and C(1, 9) are on the circumference of a circle.
(a) Find an equation of the circle. [5]
(b) Find an equation of the tangent to the circle at B. [2]
Q.No.5:
The diagram shows a circle with center A passing through the point B. A second circle
has center B and passes through A. The tangent at B to the first circle intersects the
second circle at C and D. The coordinates of A are (-1, 4) and B are (3, 2).
(a) Find the equation of the tangent CBD. [2]
(b) Find an equation of the circle with center B. [3]
(c) Find, by calculation, the x-coordinates of C and D. [3]
Q.No.6:
A circle has center at the point B(5, 1). The point A(-1, -2) lies on the circle.
(a) Find the equation of the circle. [3]
Point C is such that AC is a diameter of the circle. Point D has coordinates (5, 16).
(b) Show that DC is a tangent to the circle. [4]
The other tangent from D to the circle touches the circle at E.
(c) Find the coordinates of E. [2]
Q.No.7:
A circle with center C has equation (𝑥 − 8)2 + (𝑦 − 4)2 = 100.
(a) Show that the point T (-6, 6) is outside the circle. [3]
Two tangents from T to the circle are drawn.
(b) Show that the angle between one of the tangents and CT is exactly 45°. [2]
The two tangents touch the circle at A and B.
(c) Find the equation of the line AB, giving your answer in the form y = mx + c.
[4]
Q.No.8:
Points A 7, 12 and B lie on a circle with centre −2, 5. The line AB has equation y = −2x + 26.
Find the coordinates of B. [6]
Q.No.9: y
y = 3x − 20
x + 12 + y − 22 = 85
A
C
x
O
The circle with equation x + 12 + y − 22 = 85 and the straight line with equation y = 3x − 20 are
shown in the diagram. The line intersects the circle at A and B, and the centre of the circle is at C.
(a) Find, by calculation, the coordinates of A and B. [4]
(b) Find an equation of the circle which has its centre at C and for which the line with equation
y = 3x − 20 is a tangent to the circle. [4]
Q.No.10:
y
x − 42 + y + 12 = 40
A
x
O
The diagram shows the circle with equation x − 42 + y + 12 = 40. Parallel tangents, each with
gradient 1, touch the circle at points A and B.
(a) Find the equation of the line AB, giving the answer in the form y = mx + c. [3]
(b) Find the coordinates of A, giving each coordinate in surd form. [4]
(c) Find the equation of the tangent at A, giving the answer in the form y = mx + c, where c is in
surd form. [2]
18
Q.No.11:
The coordinates of points A, B and C are 6, 4, p, 7 and 14, 18 respectively, where p is a constant.
The line AB is perpendicular to the line BC.
(a) Given that p < 10, find the value of p. [4]
A circle passes through the points A, B and C.
(b) Find the equation of the circle. [3]
(c) Find the equation of the tangent to the circle at C, giving the answer in the form dx + ey + f = 0,
where d , e and f are integers. [3]
Q.No.12:
The circle with equation x − 32 + y − 52 = 40 intersects the y-axis at points A and B.
(a) Find the y-coordinates of A and B, expressing your answers in terms of surds. [2]
(b) Find the equation of the circle which has AB as its diameter. [2]
Q.No.13:
The circle x2 + y2 + 4x – 2y – 20 = 0 has centre C and passes through points A and B.
(a) State the coordinates of C. [1]
It is given that the midpoint, D, of AB has coordinates (1 12 , 1 12 ).
(b) Find the equation of AB, giving your answer in the form y = mx + c. [4]
(c) Find, by calculation, the x-coordinates of A and B. [3]
Q.No.14:
The coordinates of points A, B and C are A 5, −2, B 10, 3 and C 2p, p, where p is a constant.
(a) Given that AC and BC are equal in length, find the value of the fraction p. [3]
(b) It is now given instead that AC is perpendicular to BC and that p is an integer.
(i) Find the value of p. [4]
(ii) Find the equation of the circle which passes through A, B and C, giving your answer in the
form x2 + y2 + ax + by + c = 0, where a, b and c are constants. [4]
18
Q.No.15:
Points A and B have coordinates 5, 2 and 10, −1 respectively.
(a) Find the equation of the perpendicular bisector of AB. [3]
(b) Find the equation of the circle with centre A which passes through B. [3]
Q.No.16:
y
A 0, 10
B C
D x
O
x2 + y2 = 20
The diagram shows the circle with equation x2 + y2 = 20. Tangents touching the circle at points B and
C pass through the point A 0, 10.
(a) By letting the equation of a tangent be y = mx + 10, find the two possible values of m. [4]
(b) Find the coordinates of B and C. [3]
The point D is where the circle crosses the positive x-axis.
(c) Find angle BDC in degrees. [3]
