Related Formula
The equation of a family of curves passing through the intersection of two conics S₁ = 0$S_1 = 0$ and S₂ = 0$S_2 = 0$ is S₁ + λ S₂ = 0$S_1 + \lambda S_2 = 0$.
For this resulting curve to be a circle, the coefficient of x²$x^2$ must equal the coefficient of y²$y^2$, and the coefficient of the xy$xy$ term must be zero.
Core Logic
Let the two ellipses be:
S₁ ≡ x² + 2y² - 6x - 12y + 23 = 0$S_1 \equiv x^2 + 2y^2 - 6x - 12y + 23 = 0$
S₂ ≡ 4x² + 2y² - 20x - 12y + 35 = 0$S_2 \equiv 4x^2 + 2y^2 - 20x - 12y + 35 = 0$
Equation of the curve passing through their intersection is S₁ + λ S₂ = 0$S_1 + \lambda S_2 = 0$:
(1 + 4λ)x² + (2 + 2λ)y² - (6 + 20λ)x - (12 + 12λ)y + (23 + 35λ) = 0$$(1 + 4\lambda)x^2 + (2 + 2\lambda)y^2 - (6 + 20\lambda)x - (12 + 12\lambda)y + (23 + 35\lambda) = 0$$
For this to represent a circle, coefficient of x²$x^2$ = coefficient of y²$y^2$:
1 + 4λ = 2 + 2λ 2λ = 1 λ = (1)/(2)$$1 + 4\lambda = 2 + 2\lambda \implies 2\lambda = 1 \implies \lambda = \frac{1}{2}$$
Step 1: Finding Circle Parameters
Substitute λ = 1/2$\lambda = 1/2$ back into the family equation:
(1 + 2)x² + (2 + 1)y² - (6 + 10)x - (12 + 6)y + (23 + (35)/(2)) = 0$$(1 + 2)x^2 + (2 + 1)y^2 - (6 + 10)x - (12 + 6)y + \left(23 + \frac{35}{2}\right) = 0$$
3x² + 3y² - 16x - 18y + (81)/(2) = 0$$3x^2 + 3y^2 - 16x - 18y + \frac{81}{2} = 0$$
Dividing by 3 to write in standard form:
x² + y² - (16)/(3)x - 6y + (27)/(2) = 0$$x^2 + y^2 - \frac{16}{3}x - 6y + \frac{27}{2} = 0$$
The centre (a, b)$(a, b)$ is given by (-g, -f)$(-g, -f)$:
a = (8)/(3), b = 3$$a = \frac{8}{3}, \quad b = 3$$
The radius r$r$ is given by r² = g² + f² - c$r^2 = g^2 + f^2 - c$:
r² = ((-8)/(3))² + (-3)² - (27)/(2) = (64)/(9) + 9 - (27)/(2) = (128 + 162 - 243)/(18) = (47)/(18)$$r^2 = \left(\frac{-8}{3}\right)^2 + (-3)^2 - \frac{27}{2} = \frac{64}{9} + 9 - \frac{27}{2} = \frac{128 + 162 - 243}{18} = \frac{47}{18}$$
Step 2: Final Calculation
We need to find ab + 18r²$ab + 18r^2$:
ab = ((8)/(3))(3) = 8$$ab = \left(\frac{8}{3}\right)(3) = 8$$
18r² = 18((47)/(18)) = 47$$18r^2 = 18\left(\frac{47}{18}\right) = 47$$
ab + 18r² = 8 + 47 = 55$$ab + 18r^2 = 8 + 47 = 55$$
Pattern Recognition
When intersection points of two 2nd$2^{\text{nd}}$ degree curves form a circle, apply S₁ + λ S₂ = 0$S_1 + \lambda S_2 = 0$ immediately, forcing the necessary symmetric coefficients to extract λ$\lambda$.
Chapter Mix
Class 11 Maths: Conic Sections
Class 11 Maths: Circles