Paper 2 · Co-ordinate Geometry of the Circle ⏱ Tested in 1 exam question since 2025 Lesson 4 of 9

The Circle 4 – Point of intersection of a line and a circle ( tangents, chords etc)

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You’ll learn

  • Find where a line meets a circle by substituting the line into the circle's equation
  • Classify chord, tangent or miss from the discriminant b² − 4ac of the quadratic
  • Prove no intersection two ways: b² − 4ac < 0, or perpendicular distance > radius
  • Find the circle on a chord PQ as diameter: midpoint = centre, distance = radius

Most recent exam questions

  • 2025 P2 Q2(b)

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