Two circles intersection or tangency

Determine whether two circles intersect, touch, or are separate by comparing the distance between centres with the sum/difference of radii.

11 questions · Standard +0.1

1.03d Circles: equation (x-a)^2+(y-b)^2=r^2
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CAIE P1 2022 November Q8
7 marks Standard +0.3
8 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{8eb3d21b-dc45-493c-9e5c-3c0535c505e8-10_492_888_255_625} The diagram shows two identical circles intersecting at points \(A\) and \(B\) and with centres at \(P\) and \(Q\). The radius of each circle is \(r\) and the distance \(P Q\) is \(\frac { 5 } { 3 } r\).
  1. Find the perimeter of the shaded region in terms of \(r\).
  2. Find the area of the shaded region in terms of \(r\).
Edexcel C12 2017 June Q14
8 marks Standard +0.3
14. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{08b1be3e-2d9a-4832-b230-d5519540f494-48_771_812_237_575} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 5}
\end{figure} Figure 5 shows a sketch of the circle \(C _ { 1 }\) The points \(A ( 1,4 )\) and \(B ( 7,8 )\) lie on \(C _ { 1 }\) Given that \(A B\) is a diameter of the circle \(C _ { 1 }\)
  1. find the coordinates for the centre of \(C _ { 1 }\)
  2. find the exact radius of \(C _ { 1 }\) simplifying your answer. Two distinct circles \(C _ { 2 }\) and \(C _ { 3 }\) each have centre \(( 0,0 )\).
    Given that each of these circles touch circle \(C _ { 1 }\)
  3. find the equation of circle \(C _ { 2 }\) and the equation of circle \(C _ { 3 }\)
Edexcel P2 2024 June Q7
6 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. The circle \(C _ { 1 }\) has equation
$$x ^ { 2 } + y ^ { 2 } + 8 x - 10 y = 29$$
    1. Find the coordinates of the centre of \(C _ { 1 }\)
    2. Find the exact value of the radius of \(C _ { 1 }\) In part (b) you must show detailed reasoning.
      The circle \(C _ { 2 }\) has equation $$( x - 5 ) ^ { 2 } + ( y + 8 ) ^ { 2 } = 52$$
  1. Prove that the circles \(C _ { 1 }\) and \(C _ { 2 }\) neither touch nor intersect.
Edexcel Paper 1 2020 October Q11
8 marks Standard +0.8
11. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{dc0ac5df-24a7-41b5-8410-f0e9b332ba64-30_738_837_242_614} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3}
\end{figure} Circle \(C _ { 1 }\) has equation \(x ^ { 2 } + y ^ { 2 } = 100\) Circle \(C _ { 2 }\) has equation \(( x - 15 ) ^ { 2 } + y ^ { 2 } = 40\) The circles meet at points \(A\) and \(B\) as shown in Figure 3.
  1. Show that angle \(A O B = 0.635\) radians to 3 significant figures, where \(O\) is the origin. The region shown shaded in Figure 3 is bounded by \(C _ { 1 }\) and \(C _ { 2 }\)
  2. Find the perimeter of the shaded region, giving your answer to one decimal place.
Edexcel Paper 2 2024 June Q14
8 marks Standard +0.3
  1. The circle \(C _ { 1 }\) has equation
$$x ^ { 2 } + y ^ { 2 } - 6 x + 14 y + 33 = 0$$
  1. Find
    1. the coordinates of the centre of \(C _ { 1 }\)
    2. the radius of \(C _ { 1 }\) A different circle \(C _ { 2 }\)
      • has centre with coordinates (-6, -8)
  2. has radius \(k\), where \(k\) is a constant
  3. Given that \(C _ { 1 }\) and \(C _ { 2 }\) intersect at 2 distinct points,
  4. find the range of values of \(k\), writing your answer in set notation.
OCR MEI C1 Q10
12 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. Write down the equations of the circles A and B .
  2. Find the \(x\) coordinates of the points where the two curves intersect.
  3. Find the \(y\) coordinates of these points, giving your answers in surd form.
CAIE P1 2024 November Q6
7 marks Moderate -0.3
Circles \(C_1\) and \(C_2\) have equations $$x^2 + y^2 + 6x - 10y + 18 = 0 \text{ and } (x-9)^2 + (y+4)^2 - 64 = 0$$ respectively.
  1. Find the distance between the centres of the circles. [4] \(P\) and \(Q\) are points on \(C_1\) and \(C_2\) respectively. The distance between \(P\) and \(Q\) is denoted by \(d\).
  2. Find the greatest and least possible values of \(d\). [3]
Edexcel C2 Q3
7 marks Moderate -0.3
A circle \(C\) has equation $$x^2 + y^2 - 6x + 8y - 75 = 0.$$
  1. Write down the coordinates of the centre of \(C\), and calculate the radius of \(C\). [3]
A second circle has centre at the point \((15, 12)\) and radius \(10\).
  1. Sketch both circles on a single diagram and find the coordinates of the point where they touch. [4]
Edexcel C2 Q4
7 marks Moderate -0.3
A circle \(C\) has equation \(x^2 + y^2 - 6x + 8y - 75 = 0\).
  1. Write down the coordinates of the centre of \(C\), and calculate the radius of \(C\). [3]
A second circle has centre at the point \((15, 12)\) and radius \(10\).
  1. Sketch both circles on a single diagram and find the coordinates of the point where they touch. [4]
SPS SPS SM 2024 October Q8
5 marks Standard +0.3
A circle, C, has equation \(x^2 - 6x + y^2 = 16\). A second circle, D, has the following properties:
  • The line through the centres of circle C and circle D has gradient 1.
  • Circle D touches circle C at exactly one point.
  • The centre of circle D lies in the first quadrant.
  • Circle D has the same radius as circle C.
Find the coordinates of the centre of circle D. [5]
SPS SPS SM 2025 November Q8
11 marks Standard +0.3
The circles \(C_1\) and \(C_2\) have respective equations $$x^2 + y^2 - 6x - 2y = 15$$ $$x^2 + y^2 - 18x + 14y = 95.$$
  1. By considering the coordinates of the centres and the lengths of the radii of \(C_1\) and \(C_2\), show that \(C_1\) and \(C_2\) touch internally at some point \(P\). [4]
  2. Determine the coordinates of \(P\). [3]
  3. Find the equation of the common tangent to the circles at P. [4]