SAT II Math II : Coordinate Geometry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT II Math II

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Parabolas

Which of the following equations represent a parabola?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle y=2^x

\displaystyle y^2 = x^2

\displaystyle y=\frac{1}{2x^2}

\displaystyle y=\frac{1}{2x}

\displaystyle y=\frac{1}{2}x^2

Correct answer:

\displaystyle y=\frac{1}{2}x^2

Explanation:

The parabola is represented in the form \displaystyle y=ax^2+bx+c.  If there is a variable in the denominator or as an exponent, it is not a parabola.

The only equation that has an order of two is:   \displaystyle y=\frac{1}{2}x^2

Example Question #1 : Circles, Ellipses, And Hyperbolas

Circle

Refer to the above figure. The circle has its center at the origin. What is the equation of the circle?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle x^{2}+ y^{2} = 1 0

\displaystyle \frac{x^{2}}{36}+ \frac{y^{2} }{64}= 1

\displaystyle \frac{y^{2} }{64 } - \frac{x^{2}}{36} = 1

\displaystyle x^{2}+ y^{2} = 100

\displaystyle \frac{x^{2}}{36}- \frac{y^{2} }{64}= 1

Correct answer:

\displaystyle x^{2}+ y^{2} = 100

Explanation:

The equation of a circle with center \displaystyle (h, k) and radius \displaystyle r is

\displaystyle (x-h)^{2}+ \left ( y - k\right )^{2} = r^{2}

The center is at the origin, or \displaystyle (0,0), so \displaystyle h = k = 0. To find \displaystyle r^{2}, use the distance formula as follows:

\displaystyle r^{2} = \left ( 6-0\right )^{2} +\left ( 8 -0 \right )^{2} = 6^{2}+8^{2} = 36 + 64 = 100

Note that we do not actually need to find \displaystyle r

We can now write the equation of the circle:

\displaystyle (x-0)^{2}+ \left ( y - 0\right )^{2} = 100

\displaystyle x^{2}+y^{2} = 100

Example Question #2 : Circles, Ellipses, And Hyperbolas

Circle

Refer to the above diagram. The circle has its center at the origin; \displaystyle B is the point \displaystyle (-9, -12). What is the length of the arc \displaystyle \widehat{AB}, to the nearest tenth?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 37.5

\displaystyle 16.6

\displaystyle 18.8

\displaystyle 33.2

\displaystyle 56.8

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 33.2

Explanation:

First, it is necessary to determine the radius of the circle. This is the distance between \displaystyle (0,0) and \displaystyle (-9, -12), so we apply the distance formula:

\displaystyle r = \sqrt{(x_{2} - x _{1})^{2}+(y_{2} - y_{1})^{2}}

\displaystyle r = \sqrt{\left ( -9-0\right )^{2} +\left ( -12 -0 \right )^{2} }

\displaystyle r=\sqrt{ (-9)^{2}+(-12)^{2}}

\displaystyle r= \sqrt{81+144 }= \sqrt{225} = 15

The circumference of the circle is 

\displaystyle C = 2 \pi r = 2 \pi \cdot 15 = 30 \pi

Now we need to find the degree measure of the arc. We can do this best by examining this diagram:

Circle

The degree measure of \displaystyle \widehat{AB} is also the measure \displaystyle \theta of the central angle formed by the green radii. This is found using the relationship

\displaystyle \tan \theta = \frac{y}{x}

\displaystyle \tan \theta = \frac{-12}{-9} \approx 1.333

Using a calculator, we find that \displaystyle \tan ^{-1} 1.3333 \approx 53.12^{\circ }. We can adjust for the location of \displaystyle B:

\displaystyle \theta \approx \left (180 - 53.12 \right )^{\circ } \approx 126.87^{\circ }

which is the degree measure of the arc.

Now we can calculate the length of the arc:

\displaystyle L \approx \frac{126.87}{360} \cdot C

\displaystyle L \approx \frac{126.87}{360} \cdot 30 \pi \approx 33.2

Example Question #1 : Coordinate Geometry

On the coordinate plane, the vertices of a square are at the points with coordinates \displaystyle (7, 0), (0, 7), (-7, 0) , (0, -7). Give the equation of the circle.

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle x^{2}+ y^{2}= \frac{49}{2}

\displaystyle x^{2}+ y^{2}= \frac{49}{4}

\displaystyle (x- 7) ^{2}+ (y- 7) ^{2}= \frac{7}{2}

\displaystyle (x- 7) ^{2}+ (y- 7) ^{2}= \frac{49}{4}

\displaystyle x^{2}+ y^{2}= \frac{7}{2}

Correct answer:

\displaystyle x^{2}+ y^{2}= \frac{49}{2}

Explanation:

The figure in question is below.

Incircle 1

The center of the circle can be seen to be the origin, so, if the radius is \displaystyle r, the equation will be

\displaystyle x^{2}+ y^{2} = r^{2}.

The circle passes through the midpoints of the sides, so we will find one of these midpoints. The midpoint \displaystyle (x_{m}, y_{m}) of the segment with endpoints \displaystyle (7,0) and \displaystyle (0, 7) can be found by using the midpoint equations, setting \displaystyle x_{1} = y_{2}= 7, x_{2} = y_{1}= 0:

\displaystyle x_{m} = \frac{x_{1}+x_{2}}{2} = \frac{7+0}{2} = \frac{7}{2}

\displaystyle y_{m} = \frac{y_{1}+y_{2}}{2} = \frac{0+7 }{2} = \frac{7}{2}

The circle passed though this midpoint \displaystyle \left ( \frac{7}{2}, \frac{7}{2} \right ). The segment from this point to the origin \displaystyle (0,0) is a radius, and its length is equal to \displaystyle r. Using the following form of the distance formula, since we only need the square of the radius:

\displaystyle r ^{2} = (x_{2}-x_{1}) ^{2} + (y_{2}-y_{1}) ^{2},

set \displaystyle x_{1} = y_{1} = 0, x_{2}= y_{2}= \frac{7}{2}:

\displaystyle r ^{2} =\left (\frac{7}{2}-0\right ) ^{2}+\left (\frac{7}{2}-0\right ) ^{2}

\displaystyle =\left (\frac{7}{2} \right ) ^{2}+\left (\frac{7}{2}\right ) ^{2}

\displaystyle = \frac{49}{4} + \frac{49}{4}

\displaystyle = \frac{49}{2}

Substituting in the circle equation for \displaystyle r ^{2}, we get the correct response,

\displaystyle x^{2}+ y^{2}= \frac{49}{2}

Example Question #2 : Coordinate Geometry

Find the diameter of the circle with the equation \displaystyle x^2-10x+y^2+2y+10=0.

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle 6

\displaystyle 8

\displaystyle 4

\displaystyle 12

Correct answer:

\displaystyle 8

Explanation:

Start by putting the equation in the standard form of the equation of a circle by completing the square. Recall the standard form of the equation of a circle:

\displaystyle (x-a)^2+(y-b)^2=r^2, where the center of the circle is at \displaystyle (a,b) and the radius is \displaystyle r.

\displaystyle x^2-10x+25+y^2+2y+1+10=25+1

\displaystyle (x-5)^2+(y+1)^2+10=26

\displaystyle (x-5)^2+(y+1)^2=16

From the equation, we know that \displaystyle r^2=16.

\displaystyle r=\sqrt{16}=4

Since the radius is \displaystyle 4, double its length to find the length of the diameter. The length of the diameter is \displaystyle 8.

Example Question #2 : Circles, Ellipses, And Hyperbolas

A triangle has its vertices at the points with coordinates \displaystyle (0,0)\displaystyle (4, 4), and \displaystyle (7, 0 ). Give the equation of the circle that circumscribes it.

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle x^{2}+ y^{2}+7x -15y = 0

\displaystyle x^{2}+y^{2}+7x-y=0

\displaystyle x^{2}+y^{2}-7x-15 y=0

\displaystyle x^{2}+y^{2}-7x-y=0

None of these

Correct answer:

\displaystyle x^{2}+y^{2}-7x-y=0

Explanation:

The circumscribed circle of a triangle is the circle which passes through all three vertices of the triangle.

In general form, the equation of a circle is

\displaystyle x^{2}+ y^{2}+ Ax + By + C = 0.

Since the circle passes through the origin, substitute \displaystyle x = 0, y = 0; the equation becomes

\displaystyle 0^{2}+0^{2}+ A \cdot 0 + B \cdot 0 + C = 0

\displaystyle 0+0+0+0 + C = 0

\displaystyle C= 0

Therefore, we know the equation of any circle passing through the origin takes the form 

\displaystyle x^{2}+ y^{2}+ Ax + By = 0

for some \displaystyle A , B.

Since the circle passes through \displaystyle (7,0), substitute \displaystyle x = 7, y = 0; the equation becomes

\displaystyle 7^{2}+ 0^{2}+ A \cdot 7 + B \cdot 0 = 0

\displaystyle 49+7A= 0

Solving for \displaystyle A:

\displaystyle 7A = -49

\displaystyle A = -7

Now we know that the equation takes the form

\displaystyle x^{2}+ y^{2}-7x + By = 0 

for some \displaystyle B.

Since the circle passes through \displaystyle (4, 4), substitute \displaystyle x = 7, y = 0; the equation becomes

\displaystyle 4^{2}+ 4^{2}- 7 \cdot 4 + B \cdot 4 = 0

\displaystyle 16+16- 28 + 4B = 0

\displaystyle 4 + 4B = 0

Solving for \displaystyle B:

\displaystyle 4B = -4

\displaystyle B = -1

The general form of the equation of the circle is therefore

\displaystyle x^{2}+ y^{2}-7x -y = 0

Example Question #131 : Geometry

Which of the following symmetries applies to the graph of the relation

\displaystyle \left (x- 4 \right )^{2} + y ^{2}= 18 ?

I) Symmetry with respect to the origin

II) Symmetry with respect to the \displaystyle x-axis

III) Symmetry with respect to the \displaystyle y-axis

Possible Answers:

I only

III only

None of these

II only

I, II, and III

Correct answer:

II only

Explanation:

The relation 

\displaystyle (x-h)^{2} + (y - k)^{2} = r^{2}

is a circle with center \displaystyle (h,k) and radius \displaystyle r .

In other words, it is a circle with center at the origin, translated right \displaystyle h units and up \displaystyle k units.

\displaystyle \left (x- 4 \right )^{2} + y ^{2}= 18

or

\displaystyle \left (x- 4 \right )^{2} +\left ( y - 0 \right ) ^{2}= 18

is a circle translated right 4 units and up zero units. The upshot is that the circle moves along the \displaystyle x-axis only, and therefore is symmetric with respect to the \displaystyle x-axis, but not the \displaystyle y-axis. Also, as a consequence, it is not symmetric with respect to the origin.

Example Question #3 : Coordinate Geometry

Axes_1

Refer to the above figure.

Which of the following functions is graphed?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle g(x) = |x +6| + 3

\displaystyle g(x) = |x+3| + 6

The correct answer is not given among the other responses.

\displaystyle g(x) = |x-3| + 6

\displaystyle g(x) = |x - 6| + 3

Correct answer:

\displaystyle g(x) = |x - 6| + 3

Explanation:

Below is the graph of \displaystyle f(x) = |x|:

Axes_1

The given graph is the graph of \displaystyle f shifted 6 units left (that is, \displaystyle -6 unit right) and 3 units up. 

The function graphed is therefore

\displaystyle g (x) = f(x-h) + k where \displaystyle h = 6, k= 3. That is,

\displaystyle g (x) = f(x-6) +3

\displaystyle g(x)= | x-6 | + 3

Example Question #2 : Coordinate Geometry

Axes_1

Refer to the above figure.

Which of the following functions is graphed?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle g(x) = |2x + 6|

\displaystyle g(x) = |2x| + 3

\displaystyle g(x) = |3x +6|

\displaystyle g(x) =\left | \frac{1}{2} x \right |+ 3

Correct answer:

\displaystyle g(x) = |2x| + 3

Explanation:

Below is the graph of \displaystyle f(x) = |x|:

Axes_1

If the graph of \displaystyle f is translated by shifting each point \displaystyle (x,y) to the point \displaystyle (2, 2y), the graph of

\displaystyle g(x) = 2f(x) 

is formed. If the graph is then shifted upward by three units, the new graph is

\displaystyle g(x) = 2f(x) + 3

Since the starting graph was \displaystyle f(x) = |x|, the final graph is

\displaystyle g(x) = 2 |x| + 3, or,

\displaystyle g(x) = |2x| + 3

Example Question #4 : Coordinate Geometry

Axes_1

Refer to the above figure.

Which of the following functions is graphed?

Possible Answers:

\displaystyle g(x) = |3x-12|

\displaystyle g(x) =- |3x+12|

\displaystyle g(x) =\left | \frac{1}{3} x+\frac{4}{3} \right |

\displaystyle g(x) = |3x+12|

\displaystyle g(x) =\left | \frac{1}{3} x-\frac{4}{3} \right |

Correct answer:

\displaystyle g(x) = |3x-12|

Explanation:

Below is the graph of \displaystyle f(x) = |x|:

Axes_1

If the graph of \displaystyle f is translated by shifting each point \displaystyle (x,y) to the point \displaystyle (x, 3y), the graph of

\displaystyle g(x) = 3f(x) 

is formed. If the graph is then shifted right by four units, the new graph is

\displaystyle g(x) = 3f(x- 4)

Since the starting graph was \displaystyle f(x) = |x|, the final graph is

\displaystyle g(x) = 3 |x-4|, or \displaystyle g(x) = |3x-12|

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