SOLUTION: Find the center and radius by completing the square! x^2+y^2-4ax-6ay+4a=0

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Question 138452: Find the center and radius by completing the square!
x^2+y^2-4ax-6ay+4a=0

Found 2 solutions by stanbon, solver91311:
Answer by stanbon(75887) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Find the center and radius by completing the square!
x^2+y^2-4ax-6ay+4a=0
--------------------
x^2 -4ax + (2a)^2 + y^2 - 6ay + (3a)2 = 4a^2 + 9a^2-4a
(x-2a)^2 + (y-3a)^2 = 13a^2-4a
Center: (2a , 3a)
Radius: sqrt(13a^2-4a)
----------------------------
Cheers,
Stan H.

Answer by solver91311(24713) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I did this problem on paper before I started writing the response, and I would be willing to bet that you forgot a ^2 on the 4a term because the radius comes out so horribly ugly otherwise. I'll show you both ways, just in case.

x%5E2%2By%5E2-4ax-6ay%2B4a=0

Step 1: Put the constant term on the left.

x%5E2%2By%5E2-4ax-6ay=-4a

Step 2: Put the x-terms together and the y-terms together.

x%5E2-4ax%2By%5E2-6ay=-4a

Step 3: Divide the coefficient on the 1st degree x-term by 2 and then square the result. %284a%2F2%29%5E2=%282a%29%5E2=4a%5E2 Add the result to both sides of the equation.

x%5E2-4ax%2B4a%5E2%2By%5E2-6ay=-4a%2B4a%5E2

Step 4: Repeat step 3 for the y terms: %286a%2F2%29%5E2=%283a%29%5E2=9a%5E2

x%5E2-4ax%2B4a%5E2%2By%5E2-6ay%2B9a%5E2=-4a%2B4a%5E2%2B9a%5E2

Step 5: Collect terms on the right, and factor the two perfect squares on the left

%28x-2a%29%5E2%2B%28y-3a%29%5E2=13a%5E2-4a

The equation of a circle with center at (h,k) and radius r is:

%28x-h%29%5E2%2B%28y-k%29%5E2=r%5E2

So the center of your circle is (2a,3a) and the radius is sqrt%2813a%5E2-4a%29 UGH!

If the original equation is really x%5E2%2By%5E2-4ax-6ay%2B4a%5E2=0, the center comes out the same, but the radius is a nice neat sqrt%289a%5E2%29=3a