Precalculus QUARTER 1 Week 1

NAME: ____________________________________ YR & SEC: _____________________

Competencies:
The learner should be able to (a) illustrate the different types of conic sections: parabola,
ellipse, circle, hyperbola, and degenerate cases STEM_PC11AG-la-1; (b) define a circle
STEM_PC11AG-la-2; and (c) determine the standard form of the equation of the circle
STEM_PC11AG-la-3 at the end of this module.

To the Learners

Before starting the module, set aside other tasks that will disturb you while enjoying the
lessons. Read the simple instructions below to successfully enjoy the objectives of this self-learning
kit. Have fun!
1. Follow carefully all the contents and instructions indicated in every page of this module.
2. Writing enhances learning. Keep this in mind and use your own notebook to write down
important concepts about the lessons.
3. Perform all the provided activities in the module.
4. Let your facilitator/guardian assess your answers using the answer key card
5. Analyze the posttest and apply what you have learned.
6. Enjoy studying!

Expectations
This module was designed to help you master the basic concepts about the different types of
conic sections such as circle, parabola, ellipse and the hyperbola and their degenerate cases. This
module will also help you identify the standard form of the equation of the circle.

After going through this module, you are expected to

1. illustrate the different types of conic sections and their degenerate cases;
2. define a circle; and
3. determine the standard form of the equation of the circle.

Pre-test

Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.
1. What do you call the degenerate figure of a parabola?
A. intersecting lines B. line C. plane D. point

2. What do you call the special type of ellipse that is formed when the plane intersecting the double
right circular cone is perpendicular to the axis?
A. circle B. hyperbola C. parabola D. point

1
PRECALCULUS QUARTER 1 WEEK 1
DALMACIO D. DAYTA
3. What do you call the straight line that is rotated about a fixed point from a vertical line to form
the double right circular cone?
A. directrix B. generator C. nappe D. vertex

4. What curve is formed when a plane intersects a double right circular cone at an angle that is
smaller than the vertex angle?
A. circle B. ellipse C. hyperbola D. parabola

5. What do you call the degenerate figure of a hyperbola?

A. intersecting lines B. line C. plane D. point

6. What do you call the distance between any point on the circle and its center?
A. distance B. radius C. center D. segment

7. What is the length of the radius of the circle with center at the origin and passes through the
point (2, -3)?
A. 2 units B. 3 units C. √ 13 units D. 13 units

8. What are the coordinates of the center of the circle with equation ( x−3)2 +( y +2)2=25 ?
A. (3, -2) B. (-3, 2) C. (-3, -2) D. (3, 2)

9. What is the equation of the circle in standard form if the center is at (1, -1) and the radius is 4
units?
A. ( x +1 )2+ ( y−1 )2=16 C. ( x +1)2 +( y +1)2=16
B. ( x−1)2+( y +1)2=16 D. ( x−1)2+( y−1)2=16

10. What is the general form of the equation of the circle ( x +2)2 +( y−3)2=16 ?
A. x 2+ y 2+ 4 x−6 y −3=0 C. x 2+ y 2+ 4 x−6 y −25=0
2 2
B. x + y +2 x−3 y−3=0 D. x 2+ y 2+ 4 x−6 y −16=0

Introduction of the Topic

We introduce the conic sections (or conics), a particular class of curves which oftentimes
appear in nature and which have applications in other fields. One of the first shapes we learned, a
circle is a conic. When you throw a ball, the trajectory it takes is a parabola. The orbit taken by
each planet around the sun is an ellipse. Properties of hyperbolas have been used in the design of
certain telescopes and navigation system. In this module, we are going to discuss conic sections
and circles while the other conic sections will be elaborately discussed for subsequent modules.

Lesson 1: Conic Sections

generator upper nappe

Vertex

axis lower nappe

re 1
Figu

directrix
2

e
r
u
g
i
F

When a straight line intersects a vertical line at a fixed point, (Figure 1) rotates about that
fixed point, the surface formed is called a double right circular cone (Figure 2). A double right
circular cone consists of two cones joined at a fixed point called vertex. The line that rotates about
the fixed point is called generator and the vertical line is called the axis. A right circular cone has a
circular base and the axis is always perpendicular from the center of the base to the vertex. The
perimeter of the base is called the directrix. The lateral surface of a right circular cone is called a
nappe. The double right circular cone has two nappes. The nappe above the vertex is called the
2
PRECALCULUS QUARTER 1 WEEK 1
DALMACIO D. DAYTA
upper nappe and that below the vertex is called the lower nappe. The angle between the axis and
the generator is called the vertex angle.
When a plane intersects the double right circular cone, we get two-dimensional curves of
different types. These curves are called conic sections. Depending on the angle made by the plane
with the vertical axis of the cone, the plane can cut the cone in three different ways:

a b c d
https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_intermediate-algebra/s11-conic-sections.html

(1) When the plane intersects the double right circular cone in such a way that the angle
between the plane and the axis is greater than the vertex angle, a close curve called an
ellipse is formed. (See Figure 3a). When the plane is perpendicular to the axis, the ellipse
becomes a circle (See Figure 3b). Thus, a circle is a special type of ellipse.
(2) When the angle made by the plane to the vertical axis is exactly equal to the vertex angle,
and open curve called a parabola is formed (See Figure 3c).
(3) When the plane intersects the double right circular cone at an angle that is less than the
vertex angle, the plane intersects both the nappe of the double right circular cone to form an
open curve called hyperbola which has two disjoint curves (See Figure 3d).

Degenerate Conics
When the plane intersects the double right circular cone at its vertex, the ellipse becomes a
point. The parabola becomes a line. And, the hyperbola becomes two intersecting lines.

Lesson 2: Circle
On this part of the module, we shall discover that it is quite easy to write the equation of a
circle if the location of its center and the radius are known. First, however, let us give an explicit
definition of a circle
Definition: A circle is the set of all points on a plane that are equidistant from a fixed point on the
plane. The fixed point is called the center and the distance from the center to any point of the circle
is called the radius.
Let the center of a circle be at the fixed point C(h, k) and let the radius be equal to r. Then if P(x, y)
is any point of the circle, the distance from C to P is equal to r (See Figure 4). This condition
requires that
Y
√(x−h)2 +( y−k )2=r
and, by squaring both sides of the equation, P(x,
r y)
( x−h)2 +( y−k )2=r 2
C(h,
k)
O X

Figur
e4
This formula shows the coordinates of the center and the length of the radius and,
consequently, is sometimes called the center-radius form of the equation of a circle.

3
PRECALCULUS QUARTER 1 WEEK 1
DALMACIO D. DAYTA
 Conversely, the graph of an equation of the form ( x−h)2 +( y−k )2=r 2 is a circle with center at
(h, k) and radius equal to r. This fact is evident since the equation is satisfied by, and only by points
whose distance from (h, k) is r. Hence it is an easy task to write the equation of a circle whose
center and radius are known, or to graph the circle whose equation is expressed in the standard
form or center-radius form.
If the center of the circle is at the origin (h = 0, k = 0), and the radius is r, its equation is
represented by

x 2+ y 2=r 2
Example 1: If the center of a circle is at (-1, 4) and the radius is 3 units, write the equation of the
circle in standard form.
Solution: y
When the coordinates of the center of the circle and
the length of the radius is known, we simply substitute
C(-1, 4) 4
the values to the corresponding variables in the standard
r=3 form of the equation of the circle. So,

x ( x−h)2 +( y−k )2=r 2

-4 -1 4
Since C(-1, 4), thus h = -1, and k = 4. The radius is 3
units, so r = 3, thus:

[ x−(−1 ) ]2 +( y −4)2=32

( x +1 )2+ ( y−4 )2=9

Hence, the required equation is: ( x +1)2 +( y−4)2=9

The standard form of the equation of the circle can be presented in another way by squaring
the binomials on the left-hand side of the equation and collecting terms. Thus

( x−h)2 +( y−k )2=r 2

x 2−2 hx+ h2 + y 2−2 ky +k 2=r 2

x 2+ y 2−2 hx−2 ky +h2 +k 2−r 2=0

The last equation is of the form x 2+ y 2+ Dx + Ey+ F=0

This is called the general form of the equation of a circle.

Conversely, an equation of the form x 2+ y 2+ Dx + Ey+ F=0 can be reduced by the simple use of
completing the squares in the x terms and the y terms. Let us illustrate the procedure in the next
example.

Example 2: Change the equation x 2+ y 2−14 x +12 y −36=0 to standard form.

Solution: We start with collecting the x terms and the y terms leaving spaces for the terms to be
added to complete the squares, we have

x 2−14 x + y 2 +12 y =36

To complete the square in quadratic expressions of the form x 2+ bx , we simply add the
b 2 −14 2
constant term obtained by
2 ()2
. Hence, in x −14 x where b = -14, we add
2 ( )
=49. And, in

12 2
y 2 +12 y, we add ( )2
=36 .

Also, to keep the balance in the equation, the numbers 49 and 36 need to be added to the
right-hand side of the equation. Thus,

4
PRECALCULUS QUARTER 1 WEEK 1
DALMACIO D. DAYTA
x 2−14 x +49+ y 2+12 y +36=36+49+ 36

x 2−14 x +49+ y 2+12 y +36=121

( x−7)2 +( y+ 6)2 =121

Example 3: Find the center and radius of the circle 9 x 2+ 9 y 2−36 x+ 18 y =81.

Solution: We start by dividing all terms of the equation by 9. Hence,

x 2+ y 2−4 x +2 y=9
Then collect the x terms and the y terms leaving spaces for the terms to be added to complete the
trinomials.

( x ¿¿ 2−4 x)+( y ¿¿ 2+ 2 y )=9 ¿ ¿

To complete the trinomials, 4 and 1 must be added.

( x ¿¿ 2−4 x+ 4)+( y ¿¿ 2+ 2 y +1)=9+ 4+ 1¿ ¿

The numbers 4 and 1 were added to complete the squares in x 2−4 x and y 2 +2 y respectively. Also, 4
and 1 were added to the right-hand side of the equation to keep the equation balanced. That is,
“whatever value is added to the left-hand side of the equation, the same must be added to the right-
hand side of the equation.”
Next, we can now write the equation in standard form,

Remember that the perfect square trinomial of the form, a 2+2 ab+ b2 can be factored into a square of
binomial of the form, ( a+ b )2.

Hence, x 2−4 x+ 4=( x−2 )2; and

2 2
y +2 y+ 1=( y +1 )
Hence, the standard form of the equation of the circle is given by

( x−2 )2 + ( y +1 )2=14
Therefore, the center of the circle is at (2, -1) and the radius is √ 14 units.

Example 4: The circle with center at (-2, 3) is tangent to the x-axis. Write the equation of the circle
in standard form.
Solution: If the circle is tangent to the x-axis, then a radius is perpendicular to the x-axis at the
point (-2, 0). Hence, the radius of the circle is 3 units.
The figure illustrates the given in the problem:
The required equation is

( x +2 )2+ ( y−3 )2=9 C (-2, 3)

r=3 =3

In some cases, both the standard form and the general form of the equation of the circle can
be useful in finding its equation. A circle can be passed through three points which are not on a
straight line. This can be illustrated in the next example.
Example 5: Find the equation of the circle which passes through the points P(1, -2), Q(5, 4), and
R(10, 5).
Solution: Note that the equation of the circle can be expressed in the form
5
PRECALCULUS QUARTER 1 WEEK 1
DALMACIO D. DAYTA
x 2+ y 2+ Dx + Ey+ F=0.
In here, we are going to find the values for D, E and F so that the equation is satisfied by the
given points. So we substitute for x and y the coordinates of the given points and this results in the
following system:

1+4 + D−2E+ F=0 Equation 1

25+16+ 5 D+ 4E+ F=0 Equation 2

100+25+10 D+5E+ F=0 Equation 3

We solve the system simultaneously to get the values for D, E and F.

Subtracting Equation 1 from Equation 2 term-wise,

25+16+ 5 D+ 4E+ F=0

1+4 + D−2E+ F=0
36+ 4 D+6 E=0
Simplifying the results, we get,

2 D+3 E=−36 Equation 4

Subtracting Equation 2 from Equation 3 term-wise,

100+25+10 D+5E+ F=0

25+16+ 5 D+ 4E+ F=0
84 +5 D+ E=0
Simplifying the results, we get,

5 D+ E=−84 Equation 5

Now, we have reduced the three equations into two equations in two variables (See Equation 4 and
Equation 5).
From equation 5, we get an equation of E in terms of D.

E=−84−5 D
Then, substitute this expression for E in Equation 4.

2 D+3 (−84−5 D )=−36

2 D−252−15 D=−36
−13 D=226
D=−18
Substitute the value of D to Equation 5, to get the value of E.

5 (−18 ) + E=−84
−90+ E=−84
E=−84+ 90
E=6
Substitute the values of D and E to Equation 1, to get the value of F.

1+4−18−2 ( 6 ) + F=0
F=−1−4+18+ 12
F=25
Finally, Substitute the values of D, E and F to the general form of the equation of the circle to get
the required equation.

x 2+ y 2−18 x+6 y +25=0.

An alternative solution to example no. 5 is using the concept that the perpendicular bisectors
of two chords of a circle intersect at the center of the circle. This is illustrated in the following
figure.
So, we get the equations of the perpendicular bisectors of chords
PQ and QR,

6
PRECALCULUS QUARTER 1 WEEK 1
DALMACIO D. DAYTA
 To find the equation of the perpendicular bisector of PQ, we need
the midpoint of PQ and the negative reciprocal of the slope of PQ.
Since the slopes of perpendicular lines are negative reciprocals of
each other.

y 2− y 1
Recall that the formula for slope (m) is m=
x 2−x 1

And the formula for midpoint; M ( x +2 x , y +2 y )

1 2 1 2

Slope of PQ: Midpoint of PQ:

4−−2 6 3
m=
5−1
= =
4 2
M ( 1+2 5 , −2+2 4 )
Hence, the slope of the line perpendicular to M (3,1 )
−2
PQ is .
3
Using the point-slope formula in getting the equation of the line,

y− y1 =m( x−x 1)

Where m is the slope and ( x 1 , y 1 ) is the coordinate of the point on the line. By substitute the slope
and midpoint of PQ, the equation of the line perpendicular to PQ is given by

−2
y−1= ( x−3)
3
3 y−3=−2(x−3)
3 y−3=−2 x+6
2 x+3 y =9
We do the same in finding the equation of the line perpendicular to QR.
Slope of QR: Midpoint of PQ:

5−4 1
m= =
10−5 5
M( 5+10
2
,
4+ 5
2 )
Hence, the slope of the line perpendicular to 15 9
QR is −5. M( , )
2 2
The equation of the line perpendicular to QR is given by

9 15
y− =−5(x− )
2 2
15
2 y−9=−10(x− )
2
2 y−9=−10 x+ 75
10 x+ 2 y =84
5 x+ y=42
The equations therefore of the perpendicular bisectors of the chords PQ and QR are 2 x+3 y =9and
5 x+ y=42 respectively.
We, solve these two equations simultaneously to get the center of the circle. Thus,

Let 2 x+3 y =9 be Equation 1, and

5 x+ y=42 be Equation 2.
Our solution is by elimination by substitution. First, write an equation of y in terms of x using
Equation 2

5 x+ y=42
y=−5 x + 42
7
PRECALCULUS QUARTER 1 WEEK 1
DALMACIO D. DAYTA
Then substitute this expression for y in Equation 1.

2 x+3 (−5 x+ 42)=9

Solving for x 2 x−15 x+126=9
−13 x=−117
x=9
the center of the circle is at (9, -3). The next step is to get the length of the radius by getting the
distance between any of the given points and (9, -3).
Here, let us use P(1, -2) and (9, -3)
2 2
r =√ (−3−−2 ) + ( 9−1 )
2 2
r =√(−1 ) + ( 8 )
r =√ 1+64
r =√ 65
So, r 2=65
Hence the equation of the circle in standard form is ( x−9)2 +( y+ 3)2 =65.

Example 6: A circle is tangent to the line 2 x− y +1=0 at the point (2, 5), and the center is on the line
x + y=9 . Find the equation of the circle.
Solution:
2x – y + 1= 0
Let us have the figure to show the
Circle and the lines in example 6.
The line through (2, 5) and perpendicular to the line
2 x− y +1=0 passes through the center of the circle. To get the
equation of this line, we get the negative reciprocal of the slope
x+y=9
of 2 x− y +1=0 .

Let us rewrite the tangent line in the form y=mx+b , so that the
slope is the coefficient of x.

2 x− y +1=0
y=2 x +1

Since m = 2, the slope of the tangent line is 2, then the slope of the line containing the radius is
−1
.
2
We use the point-slope form of the equation of the line to get the equation of the line containing the
radius of the circle. Thus,

−1
y−5= ( x −2)
2
2 y−10=−x+ 2
2 y−10=−x+ 2
x +2 y =10+2
x +2 y =12

So, the equation of the line containing the radius of the circle is x +2 y =12

To get the coordinates of the center of the circle, we solve the system

{x+2x + y=9
y=12

Our solution is by elimination, let us subtract the second equation from the first to eliminate
the variable x.

x +2 y =12
x + y=9
y=3
8
PRECALCULUS QUARTER 1 WEEK 1
DALMACIO D. DAYTA
 Substitute the value of y to the second equation to get the value of x .

x +3=9
x=9−3
x=6

Hence the center is at (6, 3). To get the length of the radius, we get the distance between the
center (6, 3) and the point (2, 5).
2 2
r =√( 2−6 ) + ( 5−3 )
2 2
r =√(−4 ) + ( 2 )
r =√ 16+ 4
r =√ 20
r 2=20

Therefore, the required equation of the circle is ( x−6)2 +( y−3)2=20.

Activities
Activity 1
WORDFINDER: Encircle the word or phrase that is related to the topic discussed in this module.

A M D E G R A T O B R W I L W O N H I N G W S
X J Q P N N X S E U P D A D A Y T A P E O L P
I E A X I A M S I P H O N R V E R T E V I R A
N J N S T L P X C A I E N J E S R P E N T O R
C E I A R I R P D O R F E C R I T R E N I V A
U T N E L I T X E H A I R O T R T N I V O X B
T A E L O P S I E M L X R A E E I J F N D Q L
T R E E D O N G H T O L I W X C O G T I U S A
G E N G I S K N A H B I G S S I W V F L U P O
O N I C S M O E L C R I C O F N E W Y I A G U
M E L P Q N R M S T E M O F G C J E D N D R L
E G J K C D D X W U P A U Y A O X A A E L O D
T E I A F E H D V L Y T I O L T R O R A T T E
R D H G D I B A N F H M D O O B A B T R A A Y
V O N E F L K A G R D E J E B J B N X E T R T
E C I R C U L A R C O N E D A W J C E N T E R
T W Y U T P I O E R S I Y A R P L H N M O N N
I I N D C M R O F D R A D N A T S O E I X E O
X E N O P E R Y T R B C O O P E E R O N W G I
Activity 2
For additional discussion on the topic, watch the video lesson entitled, “Definition and
Equation of the Circle” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfJkCcs8an0

Remember
 When a plane intersects a double right circular cone, two dimensional curves called conic
sections are formed.
 There are three types of conic sections: ellipse, parabola, and hyperbola.
9
PRECALCULUS QUARTER 1 WEEK 1
DALMACIO D. DAYTA
  When a double right circular cone is cut by a plane so that the angle between the plane and
the axis is greater than the vertex angle, the ellipse is obtained. When the plane is
perpendicular to the axis, the ellipse changes into a circle.
 If a double right circular cone is cut by a plane so that the angle between the plane and the
axis is equal to the vertex angle, the parabola is formed.
 If a double right circular cone is cut by a plane so that the angle between the plane and the
axis is less than the vertex angle, the hyperbola is formed.
 A circle is the set of all points on a plane that are equidistant from a fixed point on the plane.
The fixed point is called the center and the distance from the center to any point of the circle
is called the radius.
 The standard form of the equation of the circle is given by: ( x−h )2+ ( y −k )2=r 2 where ( x , y ) is a
point on the circle, (h , k ) is the center and r is the radius of the circle.

Check your understanding

Answer the following:
1. Write the equation of the circle in standard form with center at origin and radius is √ 17 units
long.
2. A circle is with center at (−3 ,−4) and the radius is 5 units long. Write the equation of the
circle in standard form.
3. A circle is with center (−3 , 7)and is tangent to the y-axis. Write the equation of the circle in
standard form.
4. What are the coordinates of the center and length of radius of the circle x 2+ y 2−8 x+ 5 y −3=0?
5. The circle passes through the points (3 , 0),(4 ,2) and (0 , 1).Write the equation of the circle in
general form.
6. The center of the circle is at (−5 ,−1) and tangent to the line x + y +10=0 . Write the equation
of the circle in standard form.
7. The endpoints of the diameter of the circle are at (−4 ,−3) and (12 ,17) . Write the equation of
the circle in standard form.
8. The circle is concentric with x 2+ y 2+20 x−14 y+ 145=0 and the diameter is 12 units. Write the
equation of the circle in standard form.

Post-test

Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of paper.
1. What do you call the degenerate figure of an ellipse?
A. intersecting lines B. line C. plane D. point

2. What do you call the conic section formed when a plane intersects a double right circular cone at an angle
that is larger than the vertex angle?
A. circle B. ellipse C. hyperbola D. parabola

3. What do you call the vertical line that is intersected by another line rotated about a fixed point from the
vertical line to form the double right circular cone?
A. axis B. directrix C. generator D. nappe

4. What curve is formed when a plane intersects a double right circular cone at an angle that is equal to the
vertex angle?
A. circle B. ellipse C. hyperbola D. parabola

5. What do you call the degenerate figure of a parabola?

A. intersecting lines B. line C. plane D. point

6. What do you call the distance between any point on the circle and its center?
A. distance B. radius C. center D. segment

7. What is the length of the radius of the circle with center at the origin and passes through the point (-3, 4)?
A. 2 units B. 3 units C. 5 units D. 7 units
8. What are the coordinates of the center of the circle with equation ( x +3)2+( y +2)2=16?
A. (3, -2) B. (-3, 2) C. (-3, -2) D. (3, 2)

10
PRECALCULUS QUARTER 1 WEEK 1
DALMACIO D. DAYTA
9. What is the equation of the circle in standard form if the center is at (-2, 1) and the radius is 5 units?
A. ( x−2 )2 + ( y−1 )2=25 C. ( x +2)2 +( y−1)2=25
B. ( x +2)2 +( y +1)2=25 D. ( x−2)2+( y +1)2=16

10. What is the general form of the equation of the circle ( x−3)2 +( y −4)2 =16?
A. x 2+ y 2−6 x−8 y +9=0 C. x 2+ y 2−6 x+ 8 y+ 9=0
B. x 2+ y 2+ 6 x −8 y+ 9=0 D. x 2+ y 2−6 x−8 y +25=0

References:
Fuller, Gordon. Analytic Geometry. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. Philippine copyright 1973 by
Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. pp. 54-60.
Pre-Calculus. Department of Education. Sunshine Interlinks Publishing House, Inc. Quezon City Philippines.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO2zAU3Eppo&t=259s
https://saylordotorg.github.io/text_intermediate-algebra/s11-conic-sections.html

Answer Key

11
PRECALCULUS QUARTER 1 WEEK 1
DALMACIO D. DAYTA