document.write( "Question 374780: The two points (-2,4) and (4,2) are the endpoints of the diameter of a circle. What is the equation of this circle in standard form? \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #266517 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
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Recall that the general equation of a circle is \"%28x-h%29%5E2%2B%28y-k%29%5E2=r%5E2\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So we need the center (h,k) and the radius squared \"r%5E2\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "First, let's find the center (h,k).\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Since the center is the midpoint of the line segment with endpoints (-2,4) and (4,2), we need to find the midpoint.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "X-Coordinate of Midpoint = \"%28x%5B1%5D%2Bx%5B2%5D%29%2F2+=+%28-2%2B4%29%2F2=2%2F2+=+1\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Since the x coordinate of midpoint is \"1\", this means that \"h=1\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Y-Coordinate of Midpoint = \"%28y%5B1%5D%2By%5B2%5D%29%2F2+=+%284%2B2%29%2F2=6%2F2+=+3\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Since the y coordinate of midpoint is \"3\", this means that \"k=3\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the center is the point (1, 3)\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now let's find the radius squared\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Use the formula \"r%5E2=%28x-h%29%5E2%2B%28y-k%29%5E2\", where (h,k) is the center and (x,y) is an arbitrary point on the circle.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "In this case, \"h=1\" and \"k=3\". Also, \"x=-2\" and \"y=4\". Plug these values into the equation above and simplify to get:\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"r%5E2=%28-2-1%29%5E2%2B%284-3%29%5E2\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"r%5E2=%28-3%29%5E2%2B%281%29%5E2\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"r%5E2=9%2B1\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"r%5E2=10\"\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So because \"h=1\", \"k=3\", and \"r%5E2=10\", this means that the equation of the circle that passes through the points (-2,4) and (4,2) (which are the endpoints of the diameter) is \r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"%28x-1%29%5E2%2B%28y-3%29%5E2=10\".\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "If you need more help, email me at jim_thompson5910@hotmail.com\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Also, feel free to check out my tutoring website\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Jim
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