McGraw Hill Integrated II, 2012
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McGraw Hill Integrated II, 2012 View details
8. Equations of Circles
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Exercise 17 Page 778

Use the Distance Formula to calculate the radius of the circle.

(x+3)^2+(y-6)^2=9

Practice makes perfect
To begin, let's recall the Distance Formula. It is used to find the distance d between two points (x_1,y_1) and (x_2,y_2). d = sqrt((x_2-x_1)^2 + (y_2-y_1)^2) We will find the radius of our circle by substituting the given points into this formula and finding the distance between the center and the known point through which the circle passes.
d = sqrt((x_2-x_1)^2 + (y_2-y_1)^2)
d=sqrt(( 0-( - 3))^2+( 6- 6)^2)
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Evaluate right-hand side
d=sqrt((0+3)^2+(6-6)^2)
d=sqrt(3^2+0^2)
d=sqrt(9+0)
d=sqrt(9)
d=3
Let's now recall the standard form of an equation of a circle. (x- h)^2+(y- k)^2= r^2 In this formula, ( h, k) is the center of the circle and r is its radius. We are told that the center of the circle is ( - 3, 6). This information, together with r= 3, is enough to write the equation. (x-( - 3))^2+(y- 6)^2= 3^2 ⇕ (x+3)^2+(y-6)^2=9