Circle

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Circle illustration
Circle illustration

In Euclidean geometry, a circle is the set of all points in a plane at a fixed distance, called the radius, from a given point, the centre.

Circles are simple closed curves which divide the plane into an interior and exterior. The circumference of a circle is the perimeter of the circle, and the interior of the circle is called a disk. An arc is any continuous portion of a circle.

A circle is a special ellipse in which the two foci coincide (i.e., are the same point). Circles are conic sections attained when a right circular cone is intersected with a plane perpendicular to the axis of the cone.

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Circle of radius r=1, centre (a, b)=(1.2, -0.5).
Circle of radius r=1, centre (a, b)=(1.2, -0.5).

In an x-y coordinate system, the circle with centre (a, b) and radius r is the set of all points (x, y) such that


\left( x - a \right)^2 + \left( y - b \right)^2=r^2.

The equation of the circle follows from the Pythagorean theorem applied to any point on the circle.

Chord, secant, and tangent

If the circle is centred at the origin (0, 0), then this formula can be simplified to

x^2 + y^2 = r^2 \!\

and its tangent will be

xx_1+yy_1=r^2 \!\

where x1, y1 are the coordinates of the common point.

When expressed in parametric equations, (xy) can be written using the trigonometric functions sine and cosine as

x = a+r\,\cos t,\,\!
y = b+r\,\sin t\,\!

where t is a parametric variable, understood as the angle the ray to (xy) makes with the x-axis.

In homogeneous coordinates each conic section with equation of a circle is

\ ax^2+ay^2+2b_1xz+2b_2yz+cz^2 = 0.

It can be proven that a conic section is a circle if and only if the point I(1,i,0) and J(1,-i,0) lie on the conic section. These points are called the circular points at infinity.

In polar coordinates the equation of a circle is


r^2 - 2 r r_0 \cos(\theta - \varphi) + r_0^2 = a^2.\,

In the complex plane, a circle with a centre at c and radius r has the equation | zc | 2 = r2. Since |z-c|^2 = z\overline{z}-\overline{c}z-c\overline{z}+c\overline{c}, the slightly generalized equation pz\overline{z} + gz + \overline{gz} = q for real p, q and complex g is sometimes called a generalized circle. It is important to note that not all generalized circles are actually circles.

The slope of a circle at a point (xy) can be expressed with the following formula, assuming the centre is at the origin and (xy) is on the circle:


y' = - \frac{x}{y}.

More generally, the slope at a point (xy) on the circle (xa)2 + (yb)2 = r2, i.e., the circle centred at (ab) with radius r units, is given by


y' = \frac{a-x}{y-b},

provided that y \neq b, of course.

Arc, sector, and segment

Pi or π is the ratio of a circle's Circumference to its Diameter.

 \pi = \frac{C}{D} \approx 3.141592654

The numeric value of π never changes.

π is always approximately 3.14159.

In modern English, it is pronounced /paɪ/ (as in apple pie).

Main article: Circumference
  • Length of a circle's circumference is

c = \pi d = 2\pi \cdot r.
  • Alternate formula for circumference:

Given that the ratio circumference c to the Area A is


\frac{c}{A} = \frac{2 \pi r}{\pi r^2}.

The r and the π can be canceled, leaving


\frac{c}{A} = \frac{2}{r}.

Therefore solving for c:


c = \frac{2A}{r}

So the circumference is equal to 2 times the area, divided by the radius. This can be used to calculate the circumference when a value for π cannot be computed.

Main article: Diameter

The diameter of a circle is a straight line through the center of the circle touching the circle at both sides.

The diameter of a circle is double its radius.


d = 2r= 2 \cdot \sqrt{\frac{A}{\pi}} \approx 1{.}1284 \cdot \sqrt{A}.

Area of the circle = π × area of the shaded square
Area of the circle = π × area of the shaded square
Main article: Area of a disk

 A = r^2 \cdot \pi

Using a square with side lengths equal to the diameter of the circle, then dividing the square into four squares with side lengths equal to the radius of the circle, take the area of the smaller square and multiply by π.

A = \frac{d^2\cdot\pi}{4} \approx 0{.}7854 \cdot d^2, that is, approximately 79% of the circumscribing square.

  • Chords equidistant from the centre of a circle are equal (length).
  • Equal (length) chords are equidistant from the centre.
  • The perpendicular bisector of a chord passes through the centre of a circle; equivalent statements stemming from the uniqueness of the perpendicular bisector:
    • A perpendicular line from the centre of a circle bisects the chord.
    • The line segment (Circular segment) through the centre bisecting a chord is perpendicular to the chord.
  • If a central angle and an inscribed angle of a circle are subtended by the same chord and on the same side of the chord, then the central angle is twice the inscribed angle.
  • If two angles are inscribed on the same chord and on the same side of the chord, then they are equal.
  • If two angles are inscribed on the same chord and on opposite sides of the chord, then they are supplemental.
    • For a cyclic quadrilateral, the exterior angle is equal to the interior opposite angle.
  • An inscribed angle subtended by a diameter is a right angle.
  • The diameter is longest chord of the circle.

  • The sagitta is a line segment drawn perpendicular to a chord, between the midpoint of that chord and the circumference of the circle.
  • Given the length of a chord, y, and the length x of the sagitta, the Pythagorean theorem can be used to calculate the radius of the unique circle which will fit around the 2 lines :

r=\frac{y^2}{8x}+ \frac{x}{2}

  • The line drawn perpendicular to the end point of a radius is a tangent to the circle.
  • A line drawn perpendicular to a tangent at the point of contact with a circle passes through the centre of the circle.
  • Tangents drawn from a point outside the circle are equal in length.
  • Two tangents can always be drawn from a point outside of the circle.

Secant-secant theorem
Secant-secant theorem
See also: Power of a point
  • The chord theorem states that if two chords, CD and EF, intersect at G, then CG \times DG = EG \times FG. (Chord theorem)
  • If a tangent from an external point D meets the circle at C and a secant from the external point D meets the circle at G and E respectively, then DC^2 = DG \times DE. (tangent-secant theorem)
  • If two secants, DG and DE, also cut the circle at H and F respectively, then DH \times DG = DF \times DE. (Corollary of the tangent-secant theorem)
  • The angle between a tangent and chord is equal to the subtended angle on the opposite side of the chord. (Tangent chord property)
  • If the angle subtended by the chord at the centre is 90 degrees then l = √(2) × r, where l is the length of the chord and r is the radius of the circle.
  • If two secants are inscribed in the circle as shown at right, then the measurement of angle A is equal to one half the difference of the measurements of the enclosed arcs (DE and BC). This is the secant-secant theorem.

Inscribed angle theorem
Inscribed angle theorem

An inscribed angle ψ is exactly half of the corresponding central angle θ (see Figure). Hence, all inscribed angles that subtend the same arc have the same value (cf. the blue and green angles ψ in the Figure). Angles inscribed on the arc are supplementary. In particular, every inscribed angle that subtends a diameter is a right angle.

 Apollonius' definition of a circle
\frac{d_1}{d_2}=\textrm{constant} Apollonius' definition of a circle

Apollonius of Perga showed that a circle may also be defined as the set of points having a constant ratio of distances to two foci, A and B.

The proof is as follows. A line segment PC bisects the interior angle APB, since the segments are similar:


\frac{AP}{BP} = \frac{AC}{BC}

Analogously, a line segment PD bisects the corresponding exterior angle. Since the interior and exterior angles sum to 180^{\circ}, the angle CPD is exactly 90^{\circ}, i.e., a right angle. The set of points P that form a right angle with a given line segment CD form a circle, of which CD is the diameter.
As a point of clarification, note that C and D are determined by A, B, and the desired ratio; i.e. A and B are not arbitrary points lying on an extension of the diameter of an existing circle.

Early science, particularly geometry and astronomy/astrology, was connected to the divine for most medieval scholars.  The compass in this 13th century manuscript is a symbol of God's act of Creation, as many believed that there was something intrinsically "divine" or "perfect" that could be found in circles
Early science, particularly geometry and astronomy/astrology, was connected to the divine for most medieval scholars. The compass in this 13th century manuscript is a symbol of God's act of Creation, as many believed that there was something intrinsically "divine" or "perfect" that could be found in circles
The Twelve-Mile Circle is an arc of a circle with a twelve-mile radius, with the center of the circle in the center of the town of New Castle, Delaware.
The Twelve-Mile Circle is an arc of a circle with a twelve-mile radius, with the center of the circle in the center of the town of New Castle, Delaware.

Given three non-collinear points lying on the circle

 
\mathrm{P_1} = \begin{bmatrix} x_1 \\ y_1 \\ z_1 \end{bmatrix}, 
\mathrm{P_2} = \begin{bmatrix} x_2 \\ y_2 \\ z_2 \end{bmatrix}, 
\mathrm{P_3} = \begin{bmatrix} x_3 \\ y_3 \\ z_3 \end{bmatrix}

The radius of the circle is given by

 
\mathrm{r} = \frac
{\left|P_1-P_2\right| \left|P_2-P_3\right|\left|P_3-P_1\right|}
{2 \left|\left(P_1-P_2\right) \times \left(P_2-P_3\right)\right|}

The center of the circle is given by

 
\mathrm{P_c} = \alpha \, P_1 + \beta \, P_2 + \gamma \, P_3

where


\alpha = \frac
{\left|P_2-P_3\right|^2 \left(P_1-P_2\right) \cdot \left(P_1-P_3\right)}
{2 \left|\left(P_1-P_2\right) \times \left(P_2-P_3\right)\right|^2}

\beta = \frac
{\left|P_1-P_3\right|^2 \left(P_2-P_1\right) \cdot \left(P_2-P_3\right)}
{2 \left|\left(P_1-P_2\right) \times \left(P_2-P_3\right)\right|^2}

\gamma = \frac
{\left|P_1-P_2\right|^2 \left(P_3-P_1\right) \cdot \left(P_3-P_2\right)}
{2 \left|\left(P_1-P_2\right) \times \left(P_2-P_3\right)\right|^2}

A unit normal of the plane containing the circle is given by


\hat{n} = \frac
    {\left( P_2 - P_1 \right) \times \left(P_3-P_1\right)}
    {\left| \left( P_2 - P_1 \right) \times \left(P_3-P_1\right) \right|}

Given the radius, r , center, Pc, a point on the circle, P0 and a unit normal of the plane containing the circle, \hat{n}, the parametric equation of the circle starting from the point P0 and proceeding counterclockwise is given by the following equation:


\mathrm{R} \left( s \right) = \mathrm{P_c} + 
\cos \left( \frac{\mathrm{s}}{\mathrm{r}} \right) \left( P_0 - P_c \right) + 
\sin \left( \frac{\mathrm{s}}{\mathrm{r}} \right) 
\left[ \hat{n} \times \left( P_0 - P_c \right) \right]

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