# Problems with Circles and Lines on a Cartesian Plane

(a) Find the equations of the two circles each of which touches both coordinate axes and passes through the point $(9,2)$.

(b) Find the coordinates of the second point of intersection of the two circles.

(c) Find an equation of the common chord in these two circles

• Have you done any work on this problem so far? – Newb Nov 3 '13 at 15:03
• Yes, I have tried to solve the simultaneous equations (9-a)^2+(2-b)^2=r^2, (n_x-a)^2+b^2=r^2 and a^2+(n_y-b)^2+r^2, where n_x and n_y are the respective x and y coordinates of where the circle touches the axes, but I have always ended up with very messy expressions, instead of a numerical solution, as requested. – Giuseppe Nov 3 '13 at 15:05
• Hint: When circles "touch" a line (say the axis), it does not just mean it intersects, it means the line (or axis) is also a tangent there. So equation of a circle which touches both axes is $(x-a)^2+(y \pm a)^2 = a^2$ (why?) – Macavity Nov 3 '13 at 15:33
• (x-r)^2+(y-r)^2=r^2 therefore x^2+y^2+2xr+2yr+r^2=0 therefore substituting x=9 y=2, solving for r with the quadratic formula we obtain r=17, therefore equation of circle is (x-17)^2+(y-17)^2=17^2 – Giuseppe Nov 3 '13 at 16:22