What is the standard form of the equation of a circle passing through Center at the point (-3, 1) and tangent to the y-axis?

1 Answer
Jan 7, 2016

(x+3)2+(y1)2=9

Explanation:

I assume you meant "with center at (3,1)"

The general form for a circle with center (a,b) and radius r is
XXX(xa)2+(yb)2=r2

If the circle has its center at (3,1) and is tangent to the Y-axis then it has a radius of r=3.

Substituting (3) for a, 1 for b, and 3 for r in the general form gives:
XXX(x(3))2+(y1)=32
which simplifies to the Answer above.

graph{(x+3)^2+(y-1)^2=9 [-8.77, 3.716, -2.08, 4.16]}