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Course: Digital SAT Math > Unit 5
Lesson 6: Circle equations: foundationsCircle equations | Lesson
A guide to circle equations on the digital SAT
What are circle equations, and how frequently do they appear on the test?
We can describe circles in the -plane using equations in terms of and . Circle equations questions require us to understand the connection between these equations and the features of circles.
For example, the equation is graphed in the -plane below. It is a circle with a center at and a radius of .
In this lesson, we'll learn to:
- Relate the standard form equation of a circle to the circle's center and radius
- Rewrite a circle equation in standard form by completing the square
Note: To solve the harder circle equations problems, we need to know how rewrite quadratic expressions by completing the square.
You can learn anything. Let's do this!
What is the standard form equation of a circle?
Features of a circle from its standard equation
Representing a circle in the -plane
Just like the equations for lines and parabolas, the standard form equation of a circle tells us about the circle's features.
In the -plane, a circle with center and radius has the equation:
For example, the circle above has a center located at and a radius of . For , , and , its equation is:
Try it!
How do I rewrite equations of circles in standard form?
How do I complete the square?
Rewriting circle equations in standard form by completing the square
The standard form equation of a circle contains the squares of two binomials. Sometimes, we'll be asked to determine the center or radius of a circle represented by an equation in which the squares of the binomials are expanded.
Let's use the expanded equation to guide us through how to rewrite an expanded equation in standard form.
First, we have to make sure the coefficients of and are both . For most questions that require completing the square on the SAT, the coefficients will be .
Next, we need to find the constants that complete the square for and . For , this means we need to find a constant that, when added to , lets us rewrite the expression as the square of a binomial.
You'll naturally develop a sense for constants that complete the square as you work on polynomial multiplication and factoring. A shortcut is to remember that the constant term of the binomial is equal to the coefficient of the - or -term, and the constant that needs to be added to complete the square is equal to the square of the coefficient.
The coefficient of the -term is . Therefore, the constant completes the square for :
The coefficient of the -term is . Therefore, the constant completes the square for :
We can rewrite the equation as shown below. Remember that when we add constants to one side of the equation, we must also add the same constants to the other side of the equation to keep the two sides equal.
Now that we have our completed squares, we just need to subtract from both sides of the equation. The resulting constant on the right side of the equation is equal to the square of the radius.
The equation represents a circle with a center at and a radius of .
To rewrite an expanded circle equation in standard form:
- If necessary, divide both sides of the equation by the same number so that the coefficients of both the
-term and the -term are . - Find the constant the completes the square for
. - Repeat step 2 for
. - Add the constants from steps 2 and 3 to both sides of the equation.
- Rewrite the expanded expressions as the squares of binomials.
- Combine the remaining constants on the right side of the equation. It is equal to the square of the radius.
Try it!
Your turn!
Things to remember
In the -plane, a circle with center and radius has the equation:
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