Careers360 Logo
ask-icon
share
    JEE Main April Session 2026: City Intimation Slip Out, Admit Card, Exam Dates, Sample Papers

    Position of a Point With Respect to Circle - Practice Questions & MCQ

    Edited By admin | Updated on Sep 18, 2023 18:34 AM | #JEE Main

    Quick Facts

    • Position of a Point With Respect to Circle is considered one of the most asked concept.

    • 40 Questions around this concept.

    Solve by difficulty

    If a point $P$ has co-ordinates $(0, -2)$ and $Q$ is any point on the circle, x2 + y2 $- 4x$ $- 2y + 4$ = $0$, then the maximum value of PQ is :

    If A is a point on the circle $\mathrm{x}^2+\mathrm{y}^2-4 \mathrm{x}+6 \mathrm{y}-3=0$. which is farthest from the point $(7,2)$, then

    For what values of k will the following equation give a real circle :$
    x^2+y^2+4 x-6 x+k=0
    $

    Concepts Covered - 1

    Position of a Point With Respect to Circle

    Position of a Point With Respect to Circle

    Let $S$ be a circle and $P$ be any point in the plane. Then
    $S: x^2+y^2+2 g x+2 f y+c=0$
    Centre of the circle, $\mathrm{C}(-\mathrm{g},-\mathrm{f})$

    To check if the point $P\left(x_1, y_1\right)$ lies outside, on or inside the circle $S$
    - If $\mathrm{CP}^2-\mathrm{r}^2>0$, then CP is greater than r , which means P lies outside the circle
    - If $C P^2-r^2<0$, then $C P$ is lesser than $r$, which means $P$ lies inside the circle
    - If $\mathrm{CP}^2-\mathrm{r}^2=0$, then CP is equal to r , which means P lies on the circle

    Let us find the equation for $\mathrm{CP}^2-\mathrm{r}^2$

    $
    \begin{aligned}
    & \left(x_1-(-g)\right)^2+\left(y_1-(-f)\right)^2-\left(g^2+f^2-c\right) \\
    & x_1^2+g^2+2 g x_1+y_1^2+f^2+2 f y_1-\left(g^2+f^2-c\right) \\
    & x_1^2+y_1^2+2 g x_1+2 f y_1+c
    \end{aligned}
    $
    This expression can also be obtained by substituing the coordinates of point P in the equation of the circle, and we call this expression $\mathrm{S}_1$
    So, if
    (a) P lies outside the circle $\Leftrightarrow \mathrm{S}_1>0$
    (b) P lies on the circle (on the circumference) $\Leftrightarrow \mathrm{S}_1=0$
    (c) P lies inside the circle $\Leftrightarrow \mathrm{S}_1<0$

    Greatest and Least Distance of a Point from a Circle
    $S_1$ be a circle and $P$ be any point in the plane.

    $
    \begin{aligned}
    & S_1: x^2+y^2+2 g x+2 f y+c=0 \\
    & P=\left(x_1, y_1\right)
    \end{aligned}
    $

    The centre of circle is $\mathrm{C}(-\mathrm{g},-\mathrm{f})$ and radius r is $\sqrt{g^2+f^2-c}$

    (a) If P lies inside of the circle

    The minimum distance of $P$ from the circle $=P A=A C-P C=r-P C$
    The maximum distance of $P$ from the circle $=P B=B C+P C=r+P C \mid$

    (b) If P lies outside of the circle

    The minimum distance of P from the circle $=\mathrm{PA}=\mathrm{CP}-\mathrm{AC}=\mathrm{CP}-\mathrm{r}$
    The maximum distance of P from the circle $=\mathrm{PB}=\mathrm{BC}+\mathrm{PC}=\mathrm{r}+\mathrm{PC}$

    Study it with Videos

    Position of a Point With Respect to Circle

    "Stay in the loop. Receive exam news, study resources, and expert advice!"

    Get Answer to all your questions