Equation of a Circle (OCR GCSE Maths: Higher): Exam Questions

Exam code: J560

2 hours28 questions
1
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1 mark

The equation of a circle is    x2 + y2 = 11

Work out the length of the diameter. Circle your answer.

11

211

22

22

2
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1 mark

The equation of a circle is x2 + y2 = 9 

Work out the length of the diameter. Circle your answer.

3

6

9

18

3
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1 mark

A circle, centre O, passes through (5, 0).

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What is the equation of the circle?

Circle your answer.

x2 + y2 = 25

x2 + y2 = 5

x2 + y2 = 10

x2 + y2 = 100

4
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1 mark

Work out the diameter of the circle x2 + y2 = 64

Circle your answer.

8

16

32

128

5
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2 marks

Describe fully the graph which has the equation x2 + y2 = 9.

6
2 marks

The diagram shows a circle with centre at the origin O.

A coordinate grid with x-axis labelled 'x' and y-axis labelled 'y'. A circle is drawn with its centre at the origin O. The circle passes through the four points (5, 0), (-5, 0), (0, 5) and (0, -5) on the axes. These intersection points are clearly visible — the value 5 is labelled on the positive x-axis where the circle meets it. Floating text 'Not to scale' sits at the top-right.

The circle passes through the point with coordinates (5,0).

Write down the equation of the circle.

1a
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1 mark

The equation of a curve is y = ax
A is the point where the curve intersects the y-axis.

State the coordinates of A.

1b
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3 marks

The equation of circle C is x2 + y2 = 16 The circle C is translated by the vector (30) to give circle B.

Draw a sketch of circle B.

Label with coordinates    
the centre of circle B    
and any points of intersection with the x-axis.

2a
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2 marks

In this question all units are in cm.

A circle has equation x2+y2=36

Write down the radius and centre of the circle.

radius: .......................................................... cm
centre: (..........................., ...........................) 

2b
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4 marks

The distinct points A (a, 11) and B (b, 11) lie on the circumference of the circle.

Work out the length AB.

................................................... cm

3a
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4 marks

The point ( -5, 2 ) lies on the circumference of a circle, centre (0, 0).

Find the equation of the circle.

3b
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2 marks

Work out the gradient of the tangent to the circle at (-5, 2).

4a
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2 marks

Construct the graph of  x2 + y2= 9

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4b
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3 marks

By drawing the line x + y = 1 on the grid, solve the equations x2 + y2 = 9x + y =1

5a
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2 marks

On the grid, construct the graph of  x2 + y2 = 16

q3a-medium-2-18-equation-of-circle-edexcel-gcse-maths
5b
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3 marks

Find estimates for the solutions of the simultaneous equations

x2 + y2 = 16y = 2x +1

6a
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2 marks

Here is a sketch of the circle  x2+y2=45

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Show that the tangent to this circle at the point (-3, 6) has a gradient of 12

6b
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2 marks

Find the equation of the tangent at the point (-3, 6).

7
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4 marks

P(–1, 4) is a point on a circle, centre O

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Work out the equation of the tangent to the circle at P.

Give your answer in the form    y = mx + c

1
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3 marks

Here is a circle, centre O, and the tangent to the circle at the point  P(4, 3) on the circle.

q1-hard-2-18-equation-of-circle-edexcel-gcse-maths

Find an equation of the tangent at the point P.

2a
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2 marks

On the grid, draw the graph of x2 + y2 =12.25

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2b
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3 marks

Hence find estimates for the solutions of the simultaneous equation

x2 +y2 = 12.25 2x+y=1

3
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3 marks

L is the circle with equation x2 + y2 =4

P(32, 72) is a point on L.

Find an equation of the tangent to L at the point P.

4a
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1 mark

The diagram shows a circle, centre the origin.

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Write down the equation of the circle.

4b
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2 marks

Point P has coordinates (8, —6).
Show that point P lies on the circle.

4c
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5 marks

Find the equation of the tangent to the circle at point P.

5a
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3 marks

A circle has equation x2 + y2 = 80. 

Calculate the diameter of the circle.
Give your answer as a surd in its simplest form.

5b
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2 marks

Colin says that the point (5, 7) lies outside the circle.

Is Colin correct?
Show your reasoning.

5c
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6 marks

Show that the line with equation y =  12 x + 10 is a tangent to the circle.

6
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5 marks

The diagram shows a circle with centre (0, 0) and a tangent at the point (–12, 16).

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The tangent crosses the y-axis at the point (0, p).

Find the value of p.

p = .....................................................

7
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5 marks

P is a point on the circle with equation  x2 + y2 = 80

P has x-coordinate 4 and is below the x-axis.

q28-paper-3h-june-2018-aqa-gcse-maths

Work out the equation of the tangent to the circle at P.

8
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5 marks

The diagram shows the circle    x2 + y2 = 10

P lies on the circle and has x-coordinate 1 The tangent at P  intersects the x-axis at Q.

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Work out the coordinates of Q.

9a
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2 marks

The graph below shows a circle with centre (0,0) and equation x2+y2=100.

A coordinate grid showing a circle centred on the origin O. The circle has radius 10, so it passes through the points (10, 0), (-10, 0), (0, 10) and (0, -10). The axes are labelled x and y, with the origin O marked. Tick marks at integer values from -10 to 10 on each axis.

Show that the point (8,6) lies on the circumference of the circle.

9b
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5 marks

Find the equation of the tangent to the circle at the point (8,6), giving your answer in the form y=mx+c.

1a
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4 marks

The diagram shows a circle, centre O.

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The circumference of the circle is 20π cm.
Find the equation of the circle.

1b
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4 marks

The line 10x + py = q is a tangent at the point (5, 4) in another circle with centre (0, 0).

Find the value of p and the value of q.

2
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5 marks

The line l is a tangent to the circle x2 + y2 = 40 at the point A. A is the point (2, 6).

The line l crosses the x-axis at the point P.

Work out the area of triangle OAP.

3a
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2 marks

The diagram shows the circle x2 + y2 =5.

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Mandy says that the point (2, 1.5) lies inside the circle.

Is she correct?
Show how you decide.

3b
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6 marks

The tangent to the circle at the point P (-2, 1) intersects the y-axis at A.

Show that the area of the triangle APO is 5 square units.

4
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4 marks

The diagram shows a circle, centre O.

q4-vhard-2-18-equation-of-circle-edexcel-gcse-maths

AB is the tangent to the circle at the point A. Angle OBA = 30

Point B has coordinates (16, 0)
Point P has coordinates (3p, p)

Find the value of p.
Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.
You must show all your working.

5
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5 marks

Prove algebraically that the straight line with equation x  2y =10 is a tangent to the circle with equation x2 + y2 = 20

6
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5 marks

In this question, all lengths are in centimetres.

A is a point on a circle, centre O
B is a point on a different circle, centre O. AB = 20

q27-paper-3h-june-2019-aqa-gcse-maths

The equation of the larger circle is    x2 + y2 = 144 radius of smaller circle : radius of larger circle   = 4 : 5

Work out the size of angle AOB

............................................ degrees