CIRCLE-7 (Intersection of Two Circles)

Angle of intersection of two circles

Let the two circles Sx2+y2+2gx+2fy+c=0 and Sx2+y2+2g1x+2f1y+c1=0 intersect each other at the point P and Q. The angle θ between two circles S=0 and S=0 is defined as the angle between the tangents to the two circles at the point of intersection. θ must be taken acute angle .

C1 and C2 are the centres of circles S=0 and S=0 then C1(g,f) and C2(g1,f1) and their radii

r1=g2+f2c&r2=g12+f12c1

Let d=|c1c2|=(gg1)2+(ff1)2=g2+g122gg1+f2+f122ff1

C1PAA,C2PBB since radius is perpendicular to the tangent at the point of contact ie. C1PA=90 and C2 PB=90

C1 PB=90θ and C2PA=90θ

Hence C1PC2=90θ+θ+90θ=180θ

Now in ΔC1PC2

cos(180θ)=r12+r22d22r1r2 (cosine rule)

cosθ=|r12+r22d22r1r2|

If the angle between the circles is 90 ie., θ=90, then cos90=0 Then the circles are said to be orthogonal circles or the circles cut each other orthogonally.

r12+r22d2=0

g2+f2c2+g12+f12c1g2g12+2gg1f2f12+2ff1=0

2gg1+2ff1=c+c1

It is a condition for two circles to be orthogonal

Examples :

1. Find the angle between the circles

Sx2+y24x+6y+11=0 and S=x2+y22x+8y+13=0

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Solution:

Here Sx2+y24x+6y+11=0 and S=x2+y22x+8y+13=0

The centre of these circles are C1(2,3) and C2(1,4) respectively.

The radius of these circles are r1=4+911=2

and r2=1+1613=2

Distance between the centres C1C2=d=12+12=2

Angle between two circle is cosθ=|r12+r22(c1c2)22r1r2|=|2+422×2×2|=12=cosπ4

θ=π4

2. Find the equations of the two circles which intersect the circles x2+y26y+1=0 and x2+y2 4y+1=0 orthogonally and touch the line 3x+4y+5=0

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Solution:

Let the required equation of circle be x2+y2+2gx+2fy+c=0

This circle intersect orthogonally with circles x2+y26y+1=0 and x2+y24y+1=0

Condition for orthogonality is 2gg1+2ff1=c+c1 0+2f(3)=C+1 and 0+2f(2)=c+1 6f=c+1 4f=c+1

6f=4ff=0 and c=1

Equation of circle is x2+y2+2gx1=0

Centre is (g,0) and radius g2+1

Since the line 3x+4y+5=0 touches the circle

distance of this line from the centre must be equal to radius g2+1

|3 g+59+16|=g2+1

53 g=5g2+1

squaring

25+9 g230 g=25 g2+25

16 g2+30 g=0

2 g(8 g+15)=0

g=0 or g=158

Hence equations of circles are

x2+y21=0 and x2+y2154x1=0

x2+y21=0 and 4x2+4y215x4=0

3. Prove that the two circles, which pass through (0,a) and (0,a) and touch the line y=mx+c, will cut or thogonally if c2=a2(2+m2)

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Solution:

Let the equation of the circles be

x2+y2+2gx+2fy+d=0

This circle passes through the points (0,a) and (0,a)

a2+2fa+d=0

(1) and a22fa+d=0

(1) (2)

4fa=0

f=0 and d=a2

The equation of circle is x2+y2+2gxa2=0

Centre of this circle is (g,0) and radies g2+a2

Since line y=mx+c touches the circle

|mg+cm2+1|=g2+a2

cmg=g2+a2m2+1

Squaring

c2+m2 g22mcg=g2 m2+g2+a2 m2+a2

g2+2mcg+a2(1+m2)c2=0

It is a quadratic in g

product of the roots g1 g2=a2(1+m2)c2

Sum of roots g1+g2=2mc

Now the equations of the two circles represented are x2+y2+2g1xa2=0 and x2+y2+2g2xa2= 0

These two circles will be orthogonal if

2 g1 g2=a2a2 g1 g2=a2

But g1 g2=c2+a2(1+m2)

c2+a2(1+m2)=a2

or c2=a2(2+m2)

Which is the required condition

4. If the angle of intersection of the circles x2+y2+x+y=0 and x2+y2+xy=0 is θ, then equation of the line passing through (1,2) and making an angle θ with the y-axis is

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Solution:

Let C1 and C2 be the centres of given circles C1(12,12) and C2(12,12)

Also radius these two circles are r1=14+14=12=12

and r2=14+14=12

cosθ=r12+r22d22r1r2

=12+121212×12

=0

θ=π2

Required line is parallel to x-axis and it passes through (1,2)

Equation of line is y=2.

5. The equation of a circle is x2+y2=4. Find the centre of the smallest circle touching the circle and the line x+y=52

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Solution:

Here OA=2 radius of circle x2+y2=4 with centre (0,0)

The distance of (0,0) from x+y=52 is

|522|=5

The radius of the smallest circle =522=32

and OC=2+32=72

The slope of OA=1=tanθ cosθ=12 and sinθ=12

Centre (0+OCcosθ,O+OCsinθ)=(722,722)