[Math] circle cuts three circles at the extremities of the diameter

circlesconic sections

If the circle

$$x^2 + y^2 + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0$$

cuts the three circles

$$x^2 + y^2 – 5 = 0\space;\space x^2 + y^2 – 8x – 6y + 10 = 0
\space;\space x^2 + y^2 – 4x + 2y – 2 = 0;$$
at the extremities of their diameters, then

(A) $c = – 5 $

(B) $fg = 147/25$

(C) $g + 2f = c + 2 $

(D) $4f = 3g$

I'm not understanding a single thing. Please Help

Best Answer

You might know that the equation of the common chord of two circle whose standard equations are $S_1=0$ and $S_2=0$ , is $S_1=S_2$ .

The required circle bisects the circumference of all the other 3 circles, so its common chord with these circles should pass through their respective centres.

So, we have: $$c=-5\tag{i}$$

$$8g+6f+c=-32-18+10\tag{ii}$$

$$4g-2f+c=-8-2-2\tag{iii}$$

On solving above system of equations you can get the values of $c,f,g$.

As requested by Mick, here is a picture :

enter image description here

I've marked the centres and diameters of the given circles, and the required circle is shown in red.

Related Question