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SAT (Fall 2023)

Course: SAT (Fall 2023) > Unit 6

Lesson 6: Additional Topics in Math: lessons by skill
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SAT (Fall 2023)
About the SAT Math Test
Additional Topics in Math: lessons by skill
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Circle equations | Lesson

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What are circle equations, and how frequently do they appear on the test?

We can describe circles in the xy-plane using equations in terms of x and y. Circle equations questions require us to understand the connection between these equations and the features of circles.
For example, the equation (x+2)2+(y−3)2=42 is graphed in the xy-plane below. It is a circle with a center at (−2,3) and a radius of 4.
In this lesson, we'll learn to:
  1. Relate the standard form equation of a circle to the circle's center and radius
  2. Rewrite a circle equation in standard form by completing the square
On your official SAT, you'll likely see 1 question that tests your knowledge of circles in the xy-plane.
This lesson builds upon the Manipulating quadratic and exponential expressions skill.
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

Khan Academy video wrapper
Features of a circle from its standard equationSee video transcript

Representing a circle in the xy-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 xy-plane, a circle with center (h,k) and radius r has the equation:
(x−h)2+(y−k)2=r2
For example, the circle above has a center located at (1,2) and a radius of 3. For h=1, k=2, and r=3, its equation is:
(x−1)2+(y−2)2=32

Try it!

try: find a circle that meets a criterion
If all points on a circle
in the xy-plane, which of the following could be the equation of the circle?
Choose 1 answer:

How do I rewrite equations of circles in standard form?

How do I complete the square?

Khan Academy video wrapper
Features of a circle from its expanded equationSee video transcript

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 x2+2x+y2−10y+22=0 to guide us through how to rewrite an expanded equation in standard form.
First, we have to make sure the coefficients of x2 and y2 are both 1. For most questions that require completing the square on the SAT, the coefficients will be 1.
Next, we need to find the constants that complete the square for x and y. For x, this means we need to find a constant that, when added to x2+2x, 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 12 the coefficient of the x- or y-term, and the constant that needs to be added to complete the square is equal to the square of 12 the coefficient.
The coefficient of the x-term is 2. Therefore, the constant (22)2=1 completes the square for x:
x2+2x+1=(x+1)2
The coefficient of the y-term is −10. Therefore, the constant (−102)2=25 completes the square for y:
y2−10y+25=(y−5)2
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.
x2+2x+y2−10y+22=0x2+2x+1+y2−10y+25+22=0+1+25(x+1)2+(y−5)2+22=26
Now that we have our completed squares, we just need to subtract 22 from both sides of the equation. The resulting constant on the right side of the equation is equal to the square of the radius.
(x+1)2+(y−5)2+22=26(x+1)2+(y−5)2+22−22=26−22(x+1)2+(y−5)2=4(x+1)2+(y−5)2=22
The equation represents a circle with a center at (−1,5) and a radius of 2.
To rewrite an expanded circle equation in standard form:
  1. If necessary, divide both sides of the equation by the same number so that the coefficients of both the x2-term and the y2-term are 1.
  2. Find the constant the completes the square for x.
  3. Repeat step 2 for y.
  4. Add the constants from steps 2 and 3 to both sides of the equation.
  5. Rewrite the expanded expressions as the squares of binomials.
  6. Combine the remaining constants on the right side of the equation. It is equal to the square of the radius.

Try it!

try: complete the square in an expanded circle equation
x2−12x+y2+2y=13
The equation above represents a circle in the xy-plane.
What number, when added to x2−12x, gives us an expression that can be factored into (x−6)2 ?
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3/5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7/4
  • a mixed number, like 1 3/4
  • an exact decimal, like 0.75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12 pi or 2/3 pi
What number, when added to y2+2y, gives us an expression that can be factored into (y+1)2 ?
  • Your answer should be
  • an integer, like 6
  • a simplified proper fraction, like 3/5
  • a simplified improper fraction, like 7/4
  • a mixed number, like 1 3/4
  • an exact decimal, like 0.75
  • a multiple of pi, like 12 pi or 2/3 pi

Your turn!

practice: identify the equation of a circle in standard form
A circle in the xy-plane has center (−3,−4), and radius 5. Which of the following is an equation of the circle?
Choose 1 answer:

Practice: identify a circle's diameter from equation
(x−3)2+(y−3)2=6
The equation above defines a circle in the xy-plane. What is the diameter of the circle?
Choose 1 answer:

Practice: interpret a circle equation not in standard form
x2+6x+y2−4y=3
The equation above defines a circle in the xy-plane. What are the coordinates of the center of the circle?
Choose 1 answer:

Things to remember

In the xy-plane, a circle with center (h,k) and radius r has the equation:
(x−h)2+(y−k)2=r2

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  • blobby green style avatar for user meadinmenbere
    Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to meadinmenbere's post “How do we know if a given...”
    How do we know if a given point is inside the circle, outside the circle, or tangent?
    (4 votes)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
    • piceratops ultimate style avatar for user Hecretary Bird
      Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Hecretary Bird's post “A circle is the collectio...”
      Good Answer
      A circle is the collection of all points that are a certain distance (the radius) away from a point. Using this definition, something inside the circle would be less than that distance away from the center point, and something outside the circle would be greater. Something tangent to the circle would be touching it, or its distance would be exactly the same.
      To put this idea into a problem, we can just calculate the distance using the distance formula between the center of the circle and the point we're checking. If we get an answer that's less than the radius, the point is inside the circle, and so on.
      Hope this helps!
      (11 votes)
  • blobby green style avatar for user empirical730
    Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to empirical730's post “in the 1st try it questio...”
    in the 1st try it question, I do not understand why the circle in the answer C does not fall only in the 1st quadrant but has it's sides in the other three quadrants
    (1 vote)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
    • female robot amelia style avatar for user Johanna
      Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Johanna's post “For the circle whose equa...”
      For the circle whose equation is in answer C, the radius is 8 units, and the center is at the point (6,5). We can easily add and subtract the radius to the center point in the x and y directions to find four points that are on the circle. These are (-2,5), (14,5), (6,-3), and (6,13). Because (-2,5) and (6,-3) are well into the second and fourth quadrants, respectively, we know that some of this circle is outside of the first quadrant.
      (4 votes)
  • leaf green style avatar for user ofure-osunbor
    Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to ofure-osunbor's post “For the last "Your Turn!"...”
    For the last "Your Turn!" question, how is 4 the radius and not the sqrt(3)?
    (1 vote)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
    • piceratops ultimate style avatar for user Hecretary Bird
      Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Hecretary Bird's post “Remember that you can onl...”
      Remember that you can only get the radius of a circle from its equation if it's in the proper form: (x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2
      Here, "r" would be your radius. Unfortunately, the question doesn't give us an equation in that form, so we have to complete the square to get our equation into the standard form:
      x^2 + 6x + y^2 - 4y = 3
      x^2 + 6x + 9 + y^2 - 4y + 4 = 3 + 9 + 4
      (x + 3)^2 + (y - 2)^2 = 16
      Now that we have our equation in the right form, the radius is the square root of the right hand side, or sqrt(16) = 4.
      (3 votes)
  • female robot grace style avatar for user Myn
    Posted 2 years ago. Direct link to Myn's post “where do we learn the dis...”
    where do we learn the distance formula for this topic?
    (1 vote)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
  • blobby green style avatar for user biig quad
    Posted a year ago. Direct link to biig quad's post “If all points on a circle...”
    If all points on a circle are in Quadrant I in the xyxyx, y-plane, which of the following could be the equation of the circle?

    In this particular question,there are two close answers which seems right and I'm confused how I'd get the right one. The two answers are...
    (X-6)²+ (y-5)²=64
    And
    (x-6)²+(y-5)²=16.
    The second is the answer. Why isn't it the first. Please break it down for me. Thanks.
    (1 vote)
    Default Khan Academy avatar avatar for user
    • starky tree style avatar for user ash503
      Posted a year ago. Direct link to ash503's post “Well... 16 and 64 are not...”
      Well... 16 and 64 are not simplified to radius form. So in order to know the radius of the equations, those two numbers must be square rooted. So the sqr rt of 16 is 4 and the sqr rt of 64 is a 8. Now we have our radiuses. To compare them to see which answer is correct, 8 is twice the size of 4, making that circle on the graph pretty big and not in Quadrant I. So the answer would be the equation (x-6)^2 + (y-5)^2= 16, because a radius of 4 would keep the circle in Quadrant I.

      I hope that all made sense to you. Lol!
      (1 vote)