CIRCLE-5 (Tangents and Normals)

1. Chord of contact

Let the equation of circle be x2+y2=r2 PA and PB are pair of tangents drawn from the point P(x1,y1) then AB is the chord of contact with A and B as its points of contact.

Equation of chord of contact AB is xx1+yy1=a2 Equation of chord of contact look like equation of tangent at point but point are different

If the equation of circle be x2+y2+2gx+2fy+c=0 then the equation of chord of contact is xx1+yy1+g(x+x1)+f(y+y1)+c=0

2. Equation of the chord bisected at a given point

Let the equation of circle be x2+y2=r2 and AB is a chord of it Let(M(x1,y1) be midpoint of AB.

 Slope of CM=y1x1 Slope of AB=x1y1

Equation of chord AB is

yy1=x1y1(xx1)yy1y12=xx1+x12xx1+yy1=x12+y12xx1+yy1a2=x12+y12a2 T=S1

If the equation of circle be x2+y2+2gx+2fy+c=0 then the equation of chord which is bisected at (x1,y1) is

xx1+yy1+g(x+x1)+f(y+y1)+c=x12+y12+2gx1+2fy1+c

Examples

1. Find the equation of tangent to the circle x2+y22ax=0 at the point (a(1+cosα), sinα)

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Solution :

Equation of tangent of x2+y22ax=0at(a(1+cosα),asin α) is

ax(1+cosα)+aysinαa(x+a(1+cosα))=0

ax+axcosα+aysinαaxa2(1+cosα)=0

axcosα+aysinα=a2(1+cosα)

xcosα+ysinα=a(1+cosα)

2. Find the equations of the tangents to the circle x2+y2=9 which make an angle of 60 with the axis.

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Solution :

Since tangents make an angle of 60 with the x-axis so slope of tangent

m=tan60=m=3

radius of circle x2+y2=9 is 3

we know equation of tangent to a circle x2+y2=a2 is

y=mx±a1+m2

y=3x±31+3

=3x±6

or 3xy±6=0 ie., 3xy+6=0 and 3xy6=0 are equations of tangents.

3. Show that the line (x2)cosθ+(y2)sinθ=1(1) touches a circle for all values of θ. Find the circle.

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Solution :

Since the line (x2)cosθ+(y2)sinθ=1 (1) touches a circle so it is a tangent equation to a circle.

Equation of tangent to a circle at (x1,y1) is (xh)x1+(yk)y1=a2 to a circle (xh)2+(yk)2=a2 comparing (1) and (2) we get

xh=x2yk=y2 and a2=1

x1=1cosθ y1=1sinθ

Required equation of circle is

(x2)2+(y2)2=1

x2+y24x4y+7=0

4. Find the equation of the normal to the circle x2+y2=2x which is parallel to the line x+2y=3

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Solution :

Equation of normal at (x1,y1) of x2+y22x=0 is

xx1x11=yy1y10(xx1ax1+g=yy1by1+f)

Slope of this equation is y1x11

Slope of x+2y=3 is 12

Since given that normal is parallel to x+2y=3

y1x11=12

2y1=x1+1 therefore locus of (x1,y1) is x1+2y1=1

It is the equation of normal (x+2y)=1

5. Show that the line 3x4y=1 touches the circle x2+y22x+4y+1=0 find the coordinates of the point of contact.

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Solution :

Centre and radius of circle x2+y22x+4y+1=0

is (1,2) and 1+41=2 respectively.

If the distance of a line 3x4y=1 from the centre (1,2) is equal to radius then the line touches or it is tangent to a circle.

=|3×14(2)132+42|(|ax1+by1+ca2+b2|=d)

=|3+815|

=2

line 3x4y=1 touches the circle.

Let point of contact be (x1,y1) then equation of tangent to a circle x2+y22x+4y+1=0 is

xx1+yy1(x+x1)+2(y+y1)+1=0.(1)

x(x11)+y(y1+2)x1+2y1+1=0..(2)

and given line 3x4y1=0

(1) and (2) are idenfical then comparing (1) and (2) we get

x113=y1+24=x1+2y1+11

x1+1=3x1+6y1+3 or 2x16y12=0

y12=4x18y14 or 4x17y12=0

Solving these two equations of x1,y1 we get x1=15 and y1=25

point of contact is (15,25)

6. The angle between a pair of tangents from a point P to the circle

x2+y2+4x6y+9sin2α+13cos2α=0 is 2α. Find the equation of the locus of the point P.

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Solution :

Let the coordinate of Pbe(x1,y1) and given circle is x2+y2+4x6y+9sin2α+13cos2α=0

(x+2)2+(y3)249+9sin2α+13cos2α=0

(x+2)2+(y3)29sin2α13(1cos2α)=0

(x+2)2+(y3)29sin2α13sin2α=0

(x+2)2+(y3)2=4sin2α=(2sinα)2

centre and radius of circle is (2,3) and 2sinα respectively

Distance of P and C is

PC=(x1+2)2+(y13)2

In ΔPCR

sinα=2sinα(x1+2)2+(y13)2

or (x1+2)2+(y13)2=2

Squaring

(x1+2)2+(y3)2=4 or (x+2)2+(y3)2=4

locus of point P is a circle

7. If the length of tangent from ( f,g) to the circle x2+y2=6 be twice the length of the tangent from (f,g) to circle x2+y2+3x+3y=0 then prove that f2+g2+4f+4g+2=0

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Solution :

According to the question

f2+g26=2f2+g2+3f+3 g

Squaring both side

f2+g26=4(f2+g2+3f+3 g)

3f2+3 g2+12f+12 g+6=0

Divide by 3 we get f2+g2+4f+4 g+2=0

8. The chord of contact of tangents drawn from a point on the circle x2+y2=a2 to the circle x2+y2= b2 touches the circle x2+y2=c2 show that a,b,c are in GP.

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Solution :

Let P(acosθ,asinθ) be a point on the circle x2+y2=a2 Then equation of chord of contact to the circle x2+y2=b2 from P(acosθ, asin θ) is

x(acosθ)+y(asinθ)=b2

axsinθ+aysinθ=b2

It is a tangent to the circle x2+y2=c2

length of perpendicular to the line = radius.

|b2a2|=c

b2=ac

a, b.c are in G.P.