Difference between revisions of "Circle"
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A '''circle''' is a geometric figure commonly used in Euclidean [[geometry]]. | A '''circle''' is a geometric figure commonly used in Euclidean [[geometry]]. | ||
{{asy image|<asy>unitsize(2cm);draw(unitcircle,blue);</asy>|right|A basic circle.}} | {{asy image|<asy>unitsize(2cm);draw(unitcircle,blue);</asy>|right|A basic circle.}} | ||
+ | |||
== Traditional Definition == | == Traditional Definition == | ||
A circle is defined as the [[set]] (or [[locus]]) of [[point]]s in a [[plane]] with an equal distance from a fixed point. The fixed point is called the [[center]] and the distance from the center to a point on the circle is called the [[radius]]. | A circle is defined as the [[set]] (or [[locus]]) of [[point]]s in a [[plane]] with an equal distance from a fixed point. The fixed point is called the [[center]] and the distance from the center to a point on the circle is called the [[radius]]. | ||
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== Coordinate Definition == | == Coordinate Definition == | ||
− | Using the traditional definition of a circle, we can find the general form of the equation of a circle on the [[coordinate plane]] given its radius, <math> r </math>, and center <math> (h,k) </math>. We know that each point, <math> (x,y) </math>, on the circle which we want to identify is a distance <math> r </math> from <math> (h,k) </math>. Using the distance formula, this gives <math> \sqrt{(x-h)^2 + (y-k)^2} = r </math> which is more commonly written as | + | Using the traditional definition of a circle, we can find the general form of the equation of a circle on the [[coordinate plane]] given its radius, <math>r</math>, and center <math>(h,k)</math>. We know that each point, <math>(x,y)</math>, on the circle which we want to identify is a distance <math>r</math> from <math>(h,k)</math>. Using the [[distance formula]], this gives <math>\sqrt{(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2} = r</math> which is more commonly written as |
− | + | <cmath>(x - h)^2 + (y - k)^2 = r^2.</cmath> | |
− | |||
− | '''Example:''' The equation <math> (x-3)^2 + (y+6)^2 = 25 </math> represents the circle with center <math> (3,-6) </math> and radius 5 units. | + | '''Example:''' The equation <math>(x - 3)^2 + (y + 6)^2 = 25</math> represents the circle with center <math>(3,-6)</math> and radius 5 units. |
<center>[[Image:Circlecoordinate1.PNG]]</center> | <center>[[Image:Circlecoordinate1.PNG]]</center> | ||
== Area of a Circle == | == Area of a Circle == | ||
− | The area of a circle is <math> \pi r^2 </math> where <math> \pi </math> is the mathematical constant [[pi]] and <math> r </math> is the radius. | + | The area of a circle is <math>\pi r^2</math> where <math>\pi</math> is the mathematical constant [[pi]] and <math>r</math> is the radius. |
=== Archimedes' Proof === | === Archimedes' Proof === |
Revision as of 04:26, 8 August 2014
A circle is a geometric figure commonly used in Euclidean geometry.
|
A basic circle. |
Contents
[hide]Traditional Definition
A circle is defined as the set (or locus) of points in a plane with an equal distance from a fixed point. The fixed point is called the center and the distance from the center to a point on the circle is called the radius.
Coordinate Definition
Using the traditional definition of a circle, we can find the general form of the equation of a circle on the coordinate plane given its radius, , and center
. We know that each point,
, on the circle which we want to identify is a distance
from
. Using the distance formula, this gives
which is more commonly written as
Example: The equation represents the circle with center
and radius 5 units.
Area of a Circle
The area of a circle is where
is the mathematical constant pi and
is the radius.
Archimedes' Proof
We shall explore two of the Greek mathematician Archimedes demonstrations of the area of a circle. The first is much more intuitive.
Archimedes envisioned cutting a circle up into many little wedges (think of slices of pizza). Then these wedges were placed side by side as shown below:
As these slices are made infinitely thin, the little green arcs in the diagram will become the blue line and the figure will approach the shape of a rectangle with length and width
thus making its area
.
Archimedes also came up with a brilliant proof of the area of a circle by using the proof technique of reductio ad absurdum.
Archimedes' actual claim was that a circle with radius and circumference
had an area equivalent to the area of a right triangle with base
and height
. First let the area of the circle be
and the area of the triangle be
. We have three cases then.
Case 1: The circle's area is greater than the triangle's area.
Case 2: The triangle's area is greater than the circle's area.
Case 3: The circle's area is equal to the triangle's area.
Assume that . Let
be the area of a regular polygon that is closest to the circle's area. Therefore we have
so
. Let the apothem be
and the perimeter be
so the area of a regular polygon is one half of the product of the perimeter and apothem. The perimeter is less than the circumference so
and the apothem is less than the radius so
. Therefore
. However it cannot be both
and
. So
.
Proof Using Calculus
Let the circle in question be , where r is the circle's radius. By symmetry, the circle's area is four times the area in the first quadrant. The area in the first quadrant can be computed using a definite integral from 0 to r of the function
. Using the substitution
gives the indefinite integral as
, so the definite integral equals
. Multiplying by four gives the area of the circle as
.
Related Formulae
- The area of a circle with radius
is
.
- The circumference of a circle with radius
is
.
Other Properties and Definitions
|
A circle with a tangent and a chord marked. |
- A line that touches a circle at only one point is called the tangent of that circle. Note that any point on a circle can have only one tangent.
- A line segment that has endpoints on the circle is called the chord of the circle. If the chord is extended to a line, that line is called a secant of the circle.
- The measure of an inscribed angle is always half the measure of the central angle with the same endpoints.
- Chords, secants, and tangents have the following properties:
- The perpendicular bisector of a chord is always a diameter of the circle.
- The perpendicular line through the tangent where it touches the circle is a diameter of the circle.
- The Power of a point theorem.
Other interesting properties are:
- A right triangle inscribed in a circle has a hypotenuse that is a diameter of the circle.
- Any angle formed by the two endpoints of a diameter of the circle and a third distinct point on the circle as the vertex is a right angle.
Problems
Introductory
- What is the area of a circle with radius
- Under what constraints is the circumference (in inches) of a circle greater than its area (in square inches)?
Intermediate
- Circles with centers
and
have radii 3 and 8, respectively. A common internal tangent intersects the circles at
and
, respectively. Lines
and
intersect at
, and
. What is
?
(Source)
- Let
- and
.
What is the ratio of the area of
to the area of
?
(Source)
Olympiad
- Consider a circle
, and a point
outside it. The tangent lines from
meet
at
and
, respectively. Let
be the midpoint of
. The perpendicular bisector of
meets
in a point
lying inside the triangle
.
intersects
at
, and
meets
in a point
lying outside the triangle
. If
is parallel to
, show that
is the centroid of the triangle
.
(<url>viewtopic.php?=217167 Source</url>)