Q:

Find the center of a circle with the equation: x2+y2−18x−14y+124=0

Accepted Solution

A:
Answer:(9,7)Step-by-step explanation:The goal is to write in standard form for a circle. That is write in this form: [tex](x-h)^2+(y-k)^2=r^2[/tex] where [tex](h,k)[/tex] is the center and [tex]r[/tex] is the radius.So you have[tex]x^2+y^2-18x-14y+124=0[/tex]Reorder so you have your x's together, your y's together, and the constant on the other side:[tex]x^2-18x+y^2-14y=-124[/tex]Now we are going to complete the square using[tex]x^2+bx+(\frac{b}{2})^2=(x+\frac{b}{2})^2[/tex].This means we are going to add something in next to the x's and something in next to y's.  Keep in mind whatever you add on one side you must add to the other.[tex]x^2-18x+(\frac{-18}{2})^2+y^2-14y+(\frac{-14}{2})^2=-124+(\frac{-18}{2})^2+(\frac{-14}{2})^2[/tex]The whole reason we did is so we can write x^2-18x+(-9)^2 as (x-9)^2 and y^2-14y+(-7)^2 as (y-7)^2.  We are just using this lovely thing I have I already mentioned: [tex]x^2+bx+(\frac{b}{2})^2=(x+\frac{b}{2})^2[/tex].[tex](x-9)^2+(y-7)^2=-124+81+49[/tex][tex](x-9)^2+(y-7)^2=6[/tex]Comparing this to [tex](x-h)^2+(y-k)^2=r^2[/tex] tells us [tex]h=9,k=7,r^2=6[/tex]So the center is (9,7) while the radius is [tex]\sqrt{6}[/tex].