Question

Equation of the circle through origin which cuts intercepts of length a and b on axes is

A. x² + y² + ax + by = 0

B. x² + y² - ax - by = 0

C. x² + y² + bx + ay = 0

D. none of these

Answer 1

Correct option are: A. x² + y² + ax + by = 0 and B. x² + y² - ax - by = 0

Given that we need to find the equation of the circle passing through origin and cuts off intercepts a and b from x and y - axes.

Since the circle is having intercept a from x - axis the circle must pass through (a,0) and (- a,0) as it already passes through the origin.

Since the circle is having intercept b from x - axis the circle must pass through (0,b) and (0, - b) as it already passes through the origin.

Let us assume the circle passing through the points O(0,0), A(a,0) and B(0,b).

We know that the standard form of the equation of the circle is given by:

⇒ x² + y² + 2fx + 2gy + c = 0 ..... (1)

Substituting O(0,0) in (1), we get,

⇒ 0² + 0² + 2f(0) + 2g(0) + c = 0 ⇒ c = 0 ..... (2)

Substituting A(a,0) in (1), we get,

⇒ a² + 0² + 2f(a) + 2g(0) + c = 0

⇒ a² + 2fa + c = 0 ..... (3)

Substituting B(0,b) in (1), we get,

⇒ 0² + b² + 2f(0) + 2g(b) + c = 0

⇒ b² + 2gb + c = 0 ..... (4)

On solving (2), (3) and (4) we get

Substituting these values in (1), we get

⇒ x² + y² - ax - by = 0

Similarly, we get the equation x² + y² + ax + by = 0 for the circle passing through the points (0,0), (- a,0), (0, - b).

∴ The equations of the circles are x² + y² ± ax ± by = 0.