document.write( "Question 1066857: find the equation of the circle which is tangent to the line 3y-4x-11 and pasese through (8,4) \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #682117 by math_helper(2461)\"\" \"About 
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The problem, as stated, has an infinite number of solutions. \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I will find one circle then explain why there are an infinite number of solutions.
\n" ); document.write( "The circle I will find is the one tangent to the line 3y-4x-11=0 AND also tangent to a line parallel to this line where this 2nd line passes through (8,4). The circle is tangent to this 2nd line at (8,4). In this way, there is only one solution. \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "\"3y+-+4x+-+11+=+0+\" —> \"+y+=+%284%2F3%29x+%2B+%2811%2F3%29+\" \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now imagine a line passing through (8,4), then the center of the circle, then through \"+y=%284%2F3%29x%2B%2811%2F3%29+\" at a point where the line is tangent to the circle. This (3rd) line has slope -3/4 because it must be perpendicular to \"+y+=+%284%2F3%29x+%2B+%2811%2F3%29+\" (if a line has slope m then a line perpendicular to it has slope -1/m).\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The line through the center of the circle also passes through (8,4) so we can find the equation of it.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " y = mx+b
\n" ); document.write( " 4 = (-3/4)(8) + b
\n" ); document.write( " 4 + (3/4)(8) = b
\n" ); document.write( " 4 + 6 = b —> b=10
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( " \"+y+=+%28-3%2F4%29x+%2B+10+\" <<< line through center of circle,
\n" ); document.write( " perpendicular to \"+y+=+%284%2F3%29x+%2B+%2811%2F3%29+\" \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Where these two lines meet, their y values are the same:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \"+%28-3%2F4%29x+%2B+10+\" = \"+%284%2F3%29x+%2B+%2811%2F3%29+\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " This reduces to \"+x+=+76%2F25+\" —> \"+y+=+193%2F25+\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the diameter of the circle is:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " \"+sqrt%28%288+-+76%2F25%29%5E2+%2B+%284+-+193%2F25%29%5E2%29%29+\" = \"+6.20+\" ——> \"+r+=+3.10+\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The center of the circle is at ( \"+%288%2B%2875%2F25%29%29%2F2+\" , \"++%284%2B%28193%2F25%29%29%2F2++\" )
\n" ); document.write( " which works out to ( \"+5.52+\", \"+5.86\" )
\n" ); document.write( "—\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "The equation of the circle is therefore: \"+highlight%28+%28x-5.52%29%5E2+%2B+%28y-5.86%29%5E2+=+%283.10%29%5E2+%29\"\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "—\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Now, the original problem statement has an infinite number of solutions because you can make a circle tangent to \"+y+=+%284%2F3%29x+%2B+%2811%2F3%29+\" that is a little bigger than the one we just found above, and passes through (8,4) but at a different point on the circle than the line perpendicular to \"+y+=+%284%2F3%29x+%2B+%2811%2F3%29+\". This can be done an infinite number of times by moving the tangent point (& adjusting circle size) by an infinitesimally small amount.
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