How to Find the Center and the Radius of Circles? (+FREE Worksheet!)

Related Topics

• How to Find Arc Length and Sector Area
• How to Find Equation of a Circle
• How to Find the Area and Circumference of Circles

Rules for Finding the Center and the Radius of Circles

To find the center and the radius of a circle using the equation of the circle:

• Write the equation of the circle in standard form: \((x- h)^2+( y-k)^2= r^2\),
• The center of the circle is at \(h,k\), and its radius is \(r\).

Find the Center and the Radius of Circles – Example 1:

Identify the center and the radius of each circle.

\(x^2+ y^2-4x+3=0\)

Solution:

\((x- h)^2+( y-k)^2= r^2\) is the circle equation with a radius \(r\), centered at \(h,k\).
Rewrite \(x^2+ y^2-4x+3=0\) in the standard form:
\(x^2+ y^2-4x+3=0→(x-2)^2+(y-0)^2=1^2 \)
Then, the center is at: \((2,0)\) and \(r=1\)

Find the Center and the Radius of Circles – Example 2:

Identify the center and the radius of each circle.

\(8x+x^2+10y=8- y^2\)

Solution:

\((x- h)^2+( y-k)^2= r^2\) is the circle equation with a radius \(r\), centered at \(h,k\).

Rewrite the equation in standard form:
\(8x+x^2+10y=8- y^2→(x-(-4))^2+(y-(-5))^2=7^2 \)
Then, the center is at \((-4,-5)\) and the \(r=7\).

Find the Center and the Radius of Circles – Example 3:

Identify the center and radius.
\(8x+x^2-2y=8- y^2 \)

Solution:

\((x- h)^2+( y-k)^2= r^2\) is the circle equation with a radius \(r\), centered at \(h,k\).
Rewrite \(8x+x^2-2y=8- y^2\) in the standard form:
\((x-(-4))^2+(y-1)^2=5^2\)
Then, the center is at \((-4,1)\) and \(r=5\)