In the -plane, a circle is tangent to the -axis at a point with a positive -coordinate. The circle passes through the points and . What is the radius of the circle?
For a coordinate-plane circle tangent to an axis, represent the center with variables and use the fact that the radius is the center's perpendicular distance to that axis. Substitute each given point into the circle equation, then eliminate one variable. Finally, carefully use any condition about the tangency point to select the correct circle when more than one circle is possible.
Hints
Name the center
Let the center be . Because the circle is tangent to the -axis, the point of tangency has -coordinate .
Use the radius relationship
The radius is the vertical distance from to the -axis, which is . In the distance formula for a point on the circle, the terms will cancel.
Eliminate one variable
Write one equation using each given point. One equation has and the other has , so multiply the first equation by before setting the left sides equal.
Desmos Guide
Use algebra first
Algebra is the fastest method because tangency gives a direct relationship between the center's -coordinate and the radius. Desmos can quickly verify the value of after eliminating .
Graph the two expressions
Enter and . Their intersections represent the possible values of .
Select the valid intersection and calculate the radius
Choose the intersection with positive -coordinate. Then enter to evaluate , whose absolute value is the radius.
Step-by-step Explanation
Represent the center and use tangency
Let the center be . Because the circle is tangent to the -axis, its radius is , and its point of tangency has -coordinate .
For any point on the circle,
.
After expanding and canceling , this becomes .
Use both points
Substitute :
.
Substitute :
.
Find the tangency point's x-coordinate
Since , set
.
Simplifying gives , so . Thus, or .
The tangency point has a positive -coordinate, so .
Find the radius
Substitute into :
.
Thus, . The radius is , so it is .