Question 945002:  I have to write the standard form equation of this circle: Three points on the circle: (-15,-9), (1,-9), and (-15,3). 
 Found 2 solutions by  MathLover1, Edwin McCravy: Answer by MathLover1(20850)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! On the coordinate plane, the formula becomes  
 
     and   are the   and   coordinates of the center of the circle , and   is radius
 
Three points on the circle: ( , ), ( , ), and ( , ).
 
use points to find ,  , and  
 
  ......for ( , ),
 
 
 
  ............eq.1
 
 
  ......for ( , ),
 
  ............eq.2
 
 
  ......for ( , ),
 
 
 
  ............eq.3
 
system is:
 
  ............eq.1 
 ............eq.2 
  ............eq.3 
----------------------------------------------------------
 
subtract eq.3 from eq.1
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
go to
 
  ............eq.2 substitute  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 .............2a  
 
go to
 
  ............eq.3 substitute   and  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
go to 
 
  ............eq.2 substitute   and    and solve for  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
so, your equation is   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Answer by Edwin McCravy(20064)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! 
Her method of substituting the points in the standard form, 
 ,
while correct, is much more difficult than substituting 
in the general form,
 .
I think she used a solver program, so it wasn't hard for her.
But if you have to solve it by hand, like you probably have 
to do, it's much easier to use the general form.
Substituting in the general form,
  
which simplifies to:
   
this is much easier to solve, giving D=14, E=6, and F=-42
and the general equation of the circle is
 
If you want to get the standard form which she got, you
can complete the squares.  But your teacher will probably
accept the general form.
Edwin  
  | 
 
  
 
 |   
 
 |