Circles in General Form

Learn to convert between general and standard form of circle equations and find center and radius.

Advanced25 minLesson
Printable worksheet

Definition

The general form of a circle equation is:
x2+y2+Dx+Ey+F=0x^2 + y^2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0
where DD, EE, and FF are constants.
The standard form of a circle is:
(x−h)2+(y−k)2=r2(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2
where (h,k)(h, k) is the center and rr is the radius.
Key relationship:
  • Center: (−D2,−E2)\left(-\frac{D}{2}, -\frac{E}{2}\right)
  • Radius: r=D24+E24−Fr = \sqrt{\frac{D^2}{4} + \frac{E^2}{4} - F}
To convert from general to standard form, use completing the square on both xx and yy terms.

Try it now

Which equation is in general form?

Worked Examples

Convert x2+y2−6x+4y−12=0x^2 + y^2 - 6x + 4y - 12 = 0 to standard form and find the center and radius.
1

Group xx and yy terms

(x2−6x)+(y2+4y)=12(x^2 - 6x) + (y^2 + 4y) = 12 → Move constant to right side
2

Complete the square for xx

Half of −6-6 is −3-3, and (−3)2=9(-3)^2 = 9 → Add 9 to both sides
3

Complete the square for yy

Half of 44 is 22, and (2)2=4(2)^2 = 4 → Add 4 to both sides
4

Rewrite as perfect squares

(x−3)2+(y+2)2=12+9+4(x - 3)^2 + (y + 2)^2 = 12 + 9 + 4 → (x−3)2+(y+2)2=25(x - 3)^2 + (y + 2)^2 = 25
5

Identify center and radius

Center: (3,−2)(3, -2), Radius: 25=5\sqrt{25} = 5 → Circle with center (3,−2)(3, -2) and radius 55

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to add the completed square value to BOTH sides

Why it's wrong: When completing the square, you're adding to the left side. To keep the equation balanced, you must add the same value to the right side.

Correct: If you add 9 to complete (x−3)2(x-3)^2 on the left, add 9 to the right side too.

Using wrong signs for the center coordinates

Why it's wrong: The standard form (x−h)2+(y−k)2=r2(x-h)^2 + (y-k)^2 = r^2 has SUBTRACTION, so (x+4)2(x+4)^2 means h=−4h = -4, not 44.

Correct: If you see (x+4)2(x + 4)^2, think of it as (x−(−4))2(x - (-4))^2, so h=−4h = -4.

Forgetting to take the square root to find the radius

Why it's wrong: The right side of standard form equals r2r^2, not rr.

Correct: If (x−h)2+(y−k)2=25(x-h)^2 + (y-k)^2 = 25, then r=25=5r = \sqrt{25} = 5, not r=25r = 25.

Interactive Visual

Function graph

-10-50510-10-50510xyC(3, -2)
  • h = −D/2 = 3
  • k = −E/2 = -2
  • r² = h² + k² − F = 25
  • r = 5
x² + y² + Dx + Ey + F = 0
  • Center: (3, -2)

Interactive Sandbox

Interactive Grapher

-10-50510-10-50510xy

Tap or hover over the graph to read off values.

Try these examples:

y = -2 + sqrt(25 - (x - 3)^2)

y = -2 - sqrt(25 - (x - 3)^2)

Expression Calculator

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Practice Problems

16 problems
Problem 1 of 16
Easy
Which equation is in general form?

Why It Matters

The general form of circles appears frequently in real-world applications:
  • GPS and Navigation: Circle equations model signal range from satellites and cell towers
  • Engineering: Designing circular components, gears, and wheels requires converting between forms
  • Physics: Wave propagation and interference patterns use circle equations
  • Computer Graphics: Hit detection and collision algorithms use circle equations in various forms
Knowing how to work with both forms allows you to extract useful information (center, radius) from any circle equation you encounter.

Real World Applications

Cell Tower Coverage

Cell towers broadcast signals in circular patterns. Engineers use circle equations to determine coverage areas.

Example:

A tower at coordinates (−2,3)(-2, 3) km has a range of 8 km. Its coverage is modeled by (x+2)2+(y−3)2=64(x+2)^2 + (y-3)^2 = 64.

1Try It Yourself

A cell tower's coverage is given by x2+y2+4x−6y−51=0x^2 + y^2 + 4x - 6y - 51 = 0 (units in km).

Find the tower location and its maximum range.

Step 1: Choose the right answer

First identify DD, EE, FF to find center and radius:

Earthquake Detection

Seismographs detect earthquake waves that spread in circular patterns from the epicenter.

Example:

If three stations detect waves at different times, their intersection circles pinpoint the epicenter location.

2Try It Yourself

Seismic data gives the equation x2+y2−10x+2y−23=0x^2 + y^2 - 10x + 2y - 23 = 0.

Where is the epicenter?

Step 1: Write the mathematical expression

Find the center of this circle:

Key Takeaways

  • 1General form: x2+y2+Dx+Ey+F=0x^2 + y^2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0
  • 2Standard form: (x−h)2+(y−k)2=r2(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2 with center (h,k)(h, k) and radius rr
  • 3Convert using completing the square: half the coefficient, square it, add to both sides
  • 4Quick formulas: Center =(−D/2,−E/2)= (-D/2, -E/2), Radius =D2/4+E2/4−F= \sqrt{D^2/4 + E^2/4 - F}
  • 5Always check: if D2/4+E2/4−F<0D^2/4 + E^2/4 - F < 0, no real circle exists

Frequently Asked Questions

If D24+E24−F<0\frac{D^2}{4} + \frac{E^2}{4} - F < 0, the radius would be the square root of a negative number, which is not real. This means the equation represents no real circle (an imaginary circle).
If D24+E24−F<0\frac{D^2}{4} + \frac{E^2}{4} - F < 0, the radius would be the square root of a negative number, which is not real. This means the equation represents no real circle (an imaginary circle).
If D24+E24−F=0\frac{D^2}{4} + \frac{E^2}{4} - F = 0, the radius is zero. This represents a single point (a degenerate circle) located at the center (−D/2,−E/2)(-D/2, -E/2).
Yes! Completing the square is essential for converting any conic (circles, ellipses, parabolas, hyperbolas) from general to standard form.

Glossary

General form
The equation x2+y2+Dx+Ey+F=0x^2 + y^2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0 where all terms are expanded
Standard form
The equation (x−h)2+(y−k)2=r2(x-h)^2 + (y-k)^2 = r^2 showing center and radius directly
Completing the square
A technique to rewrite a quadratic expression as a perfect square plus a constant
Degenerate circle
A circle with radius zero, representing a single point

Formula Card

General Form

x2+y2+Dx+Ey+F=0x^2 + y^2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0

Expanded form of a circle equation

Standard Form

(x−h)2+(y−k)2=r2(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2

Shows center $(h, k)$ and radius $r$ directly

Center from General

(−D2,−E2)\left(-\frac{D}{2}, -\frac{E}{2}\right)

Find center without completing the square

Radius from General

r=D24+E24−Fr = \sqrt{\frac{D^2}{4} + \frac{E^2}{4} - F}

Find radius from general form coefficients

Completing the Square

x2+bx+(b2)2=(x+b2)2x^2 + bx + \left(\frac{b}{2}\right)^2 = \left(x + \frac{b}{2}\right)^2

Key technique for converting forms

Today's challengeOne problem, three tries

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Introduction to Ellipses

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Parabolas in Vertex Form

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Circles in Standard Form

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