Is a line ax+by+c=0 tangent to a circle?

Get a line a form y=-ax/b-c/b, then substitute into a cirle equation (x-p)^2 +(y-s)^2=r^2. Get a quadratic and find whether a discriminant is equal to zero. If it is then the line is tangent to a circle. Otherwise, for d>0 the line cuts through two points on a circle, for d<0 the line has no common points with a circle.

JO
Answered by Jakub O. Maths tutor

9361 Views

See similar Maths A Level tutors

Related Maths A Level answers

All answers ▸

Showing all your working, evaluate ∫ (21x^6 - e^2x- (1/x) +6)dx


If (m+8)(x^2)+m=7-8x has two real roots show that (m+9)(m-8)<0 where m is an arbitrary constant


(GCSE) A rectangle has the following characteristics: its length is (2x + 5), its width is (3x - 2). The perimeter of the rectangle is 46 cm. What is the value of x?


Simplify: (log(40) - log(20)) + log(3)


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning