The diagram shows a circle with centre . The circle touches the x-axis, the tangent OQ and another line QR which is parallel to the y-axis.

- ((a))
- ((i))
State the equation of the circle.
- ((ii))
Find the equation of the circle which is a reflection of the circle in the line QR.
- ((i))
- ((b))
- ((i))
Given that OP makes an angle with the x-axis, find .
- ((ii))
Find the equation of the line OQ.
- ((iii))
Hence, find the coordinates of Q.
- ((i))
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Worked solution
10((a))((i))
1. Identify the centre and radius of the circle
The centre is .
Since the circle touches the x-axis, the radius is the vertical distance from to the x-axis:
2. Substitute the centre and radius into the equation of a circle
For a circle with centre and radius ,
Substituting , and ,
10((a))((ii))
1. Find the equation of the vertical mirror line QR
From 10(a)(i), has centre and radius .
Since QR is the vertical tangent to the circle on the right,
2. Reflect the centre and write the equation of the reflected circle
Reflecting in the line gives
so the reflected centre is .
The radius is unchanged, so .
Hence,
10((b))((i))
1. Find $\tan\theta$ from the horizontal and vertical changes from $O$ to $P$
Since and ,
10((b))((ii))
1. Represent the tangent line through the origin using an unknown gradient
Since passes through the origin, let its equation be
2. Substitute the line equation into the circle equation
From part (a)(i), the circle is
Substitute :
Expand:
3. Use the tangent condition to find the gradient
For the line to be a tangent, the quadratic has exactly one solution, so its discriminant is :
So
The value gives the -axis, not the tangent . Hence
4. Write the equation of the tangent line
Therefore the equation of is
10((b))((iii))
1. Use the equation of the vertical line QR
From part (a)(ii), the line of reflection is QR, so
2. Substitute into the tangent line equation to find the y-coordinate of Q
From part (b)(ii), the tangent line OQ is
At , , so
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