Standard Form of a Circle

The equation of the circle is shown with the center and radius of the circle. With this information, we can sketch the graph of the circle.

Related Topics

• How to Find the Area and Circumference of Circles
• How to Find the Center and the Radius of Circles

Step by Step Guide to Write the Standard Form of a Circle

• The Standard form of a circle is \((x- h)^2+( y-k)^2= r^2\), where \(r\) is the radius and \((h, k)\) is the center. By knowing the center and radius of the circle we can write the standard form of a circle.

Standard form of a Circle – Example 1:

Write the standard form equation of circle with center: \((0, 5)\), radius: \(3\)

Solution:

The Standard form of a circle is \((x- h)^2+( y-k)^2= r^2\), where \(r\) is the radius and \((h, k)\) is the center.

In this case, the center is \((0, 5)\) and the radius is \(3\): \((h, k)=(0, 5), r=3\)

Then: \((x- 0)^2+( y-5)^2= 3^2 → x^2+( y-5)^2= 9 \)

Standard form of a Circle – Example 2:

Write the standard form equation of the circle \(x^2+y^2-6x+2y= 6\).

Solution:

The Standard form of a circle is \((x- h)^2+( y-k)^2= r^2\), where \(r\) is the radius and \((h, k)\) is the center.

Group \(x\)-variables and \(y\)-variables together: \((x^2-6x)+( y^2+2y)= 6\)

Convert \(x\) to square form: \((x^2-6x+9)+( y^2+2y)= 6+9 → (x-3)^2+( y^2+2y)=6+9\)

Convert \(y\) to square form: \((x-3)^2+( y^2+2y+1)= 6+9+1 → (x-3)^2+(y+1)^2=6+9+1\)

Then: \((x-3)^2+(y+1)^2=4^2\)

Exercises for Writing Standard form of a Circle

Write the standard form equation of each circle with the given information.

• \(\color{blue}{Center: (0, 4)}, \color{blue}{Radius: 2}\)
• \(\color{blue}{Center: (-1, 2)}\), \(\color{blue}{Radius: 5}\)
• \(\color{blue}{x^2+y^2-6x+8y=0}\)
• \(\color{blue}{x^2+y^2-2x+8y=0}\)

• \(\color{blue}{x^2+(y-4)^2=2^2}\)
• \(\color{blue}{(x+1)^2+(y-2)^2=5^2}\)
• \(\color{blue}{(x-5)^2+y^2=4^2}\)
• \(\color{blue}{(x-1)^2+(y+4)^2=5^2}\)